Winter Haven, Fla. --- No. 20 Minnesota State baseball lost two games on Tuesday – falling to No. 9 Grand Valley State 9-8 (10 innings) in the morning and Saint Leo 5-2 in the evening.

The Mavericks (4-4) are now 3-4 on their Florida trip.  

Game 1 (vs. No. 9 Grand Valley State)

Minnesota State entered the ninth inning with an 8-4 lead over Grand Valley State (5-0), but the Mavericks allowed five unanswered runs – four in the ninth inning and one in the 10th – to lose 9-8 in 10 innings.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Grand Valley State scored four runs on one hit to erase an 8-4 Minnesota State lead and tie the game at 8-8 – forcing extra innings. The Lakers benefited from a hit by pitch, two passed balls, a wild pitch, and three walks. Grand Valley State scored its runs in the ninth on a fielder's choice, a base-loaded walk, a passed ball, and a wild pitch. After the Mavericks did not score in the top of the 10th, the Lakers pushed across the winning run in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI double by Anthony Villar to make final score 9-8.        

The Mavericks scored one run in the fourth inning, three in the fifth, one in the sixth, two in the seventh and one in the eighth for their eight runs. Senior third baseman Eric Peterson, sophomore right fielder Jordan Hart and junior shortstop Luke Waldek combined to drive in six runs in the game.

Peterson had an RBI double in the fifth inning and a two-run home run in the seventh – his second homer of the season. Peterson also walked twice and scored two runs – moving him into sole possession of third place in career runs scored (171) in program history. Hart had two hits, including a solo-home run in the sixth inning, and he also scored three runs. Waldek made his only hit of the game count – lacing a two run-single in the 5th inning and he later came around to score.

Junior first baseman Dylan Dresel tallied a game-high three hits and also scored a run for the Mavericks.

Junior NIck Belzer, who started on the mound for Minnesota State, allowed three earned runs on seven hits over six innings. Belzer struck out nine and walked one in a no-decision. Sophomore Daniel Feneis (0-1), who came on to pitch in the 10th for the Mavericks, was the pitcher of record on the short end.  

Ryan Arnold started on the rubber for Grand Valley State and surrendered seven runs – six earned – in seven innings on seven hits and one walk. Arnold struck out three batters and did not factor into the decision. Noah Lamboley (2-0), who recorded the final two outs of the game, earned the win for the Lakers.  

Game 2 (vs. Saint Leo)

The Mavericks surrendered five runs in the fifth inning and were unable to recover as they lost to Saint Leo (9-6) 5-2.

After neither team scored in the first four innings, Minnesota State plated a run in the bottom of the fifth to take a 1-0 lead. Sophomore outfielder Tyler Berg hit a sacrifice fly that scored junior first baseman Dylan Dresel. The RBI is the first of Berg's Maverick career.   

However, the Maverick lead was short lived as the Lions responded with a five-run sixth inning. Alex Mata drove in the game-tying run with an RBI single. Shane Williams chased in two runners, including the eventual game-winning run, on a single. Zach Scott concluded Saint Leo's scoring with a two-run triple, and the Mavericks trailed 5-1 at the end of six.  

Minnesota State scored a single run in the bottom of the ninth on a double by junior shortstop Luke Waldek, which chased home sophomore right fielder Jordan Hart – who tallied a game-high three hits. However, the Mavericks were unable to get any closer and lost 5-2.

Freshman Teddy Petersen, who went 2-for-3 at the plate, was the only Maverick other than Hart to record a multi-hit game.

On the hill, junior Quinn Ahern (0-1) suffered the loss in his first career start as a Maverick. Ahern allowed four runs on six hits over 5-1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three.

On the mound for Saint Leo, Eoin McAvinchey (1-2) held Minnesota State to one run on five hits over six innings. McAvinchey struck out five and did not walk a batter.

The Mavericks conclude their Florida trip against Walsh on Wednesday at 3:15 p.m. EST in Auburndale, Fla.