Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State baseball swept a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader against Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday at MSU Baseball Complex. The Mavericks won the first game 2-0 in a scheduled seven-inning game and the second game 2-1 in 11 innings.
The Mavericks (17-4, 12-0 NSIC) extended their overall winning streak to 13 games and their conference winning streak to 12 with the sweep of Southwest Minnesota State (7-11, 2-6 NSIC).
GAME 1 – Minnesota State 2, Southwest Minnesota State 0
Junior southpaw Brody Rodning (4-0) picked up his third consecutive seven-inning complete game shut-out win. He held the Mustangs to five baserunners – three hits and two walks – while striking out a season-high nine batters. With the shutout, Rodning has not allowed an earned run in his last 28 innings pitched and he lowered his season ERA to 0.29.
After the Mavericks were held out of the hit column for the first 3-2/3 innings, sophomore right fielder Jordan Hart provided the Mavericks their first hit of the game with a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the fourth. The homer – Hart's third of the season – proved to be the difference in the game and put Minnesota State up 1-0.
Southwest Minnesota State threatened in the top of the fourth inning with runners on second and third, and in the top of the sixth with the bases loaded, but Rodning was able to work out of both jams and hold the Mustangs scoreless.
The Mavericks added on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Junior shortstop Luke Waldek came to bat with the bases loaded and delivered a sacrifice fly to right field – scoring senior third baseman Eric Peterson, who tied the program record with his 182nd career run scored.
Erik Thorvilson (0-3) started for the Mustangs – allowing two earned runs on two hits and four walks over 5-1/3 innings – and was the pitcher of record on the short end.
GAME 2 – Minnesota State 2, Southwest Minnesota State 1
After the Mavericks and Mustangs played to a 1-1 draw through the first 10-1/2 innings, junior center fielder Josh Wenzel – leading off the bottom of the 11th – connected for a walk-off home run to secure the Mavericks a 2-1 victory and a doubleheader sweep of the Mustangs in game two.
Southwest Minnesota State scored first on a RBI single to left field in the top of the first – giving the Mustangs a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, Wenzel tied the game at 1-1 with a RBI single up the middle, scoring freshman left fielder Cody Ulfers.
Junior right-hander NIck Belzer, who started on the mound for the Mavericks, held the Mustangs to one run on three hits over six innings. He struck out 11 and walked five, but did not factor into the decision.
Junior right-hander Cody O'Brien (1-0), who pitched a scoreless 11th inning, earned his first win as a Maverick, while Chase Meyer (1-2) suffered the loss for the Mustangs after giving up the walk-off home run to Wenzel – the only batter Meyer faced.
Watch junior center fielder Josh Wenzel discuss his walk-off home run and the play of the Mavericks in the video below.
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