Mankato, Minn. --- No. 19 Minnesota State baseball swept Northern State at home in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon. 

The Mavericks (30-7, 25-3 NSIC) won the first game against the Wolves (16-20, 9-15 NSIC) 5-1 and the second game 13-1 in a run-rule shortened game.

GAME 1 – No. 19 Minnesota State 5, Northern State 1

Junior right-hander Dalton Roach (7-0) tossed a seven-inning complete game – not allowing an earned run – and the offense scored five runs to propel Minnesota State to a 5-1 win in game one. 

Roach was dominant on the mound – holding the Wolves to two hits and one run (none earned), while striking out 12 batters. His seven wins lead the Mavericks and he lowered his team-best ERA to 1.36. Roach's 83 strikeouts are the most in the NSIC in 2017.  

After Roach kept the Mavericks and Wolves tied at 0-0 through the first four innings, the Mavericks scored one run in the fifth inning to take a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the fifth inning, senior third baseman Eric Peterson drove in sophomore left fielder Tyler Berg from second base with a double.

With the help of Northern State defensive miscues, Minnesota State scored four more runs in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead. The Mavericks loaded the bases in the top of the sixth with freshman second baseman Tommy McDonald coming up to bat. McDonald grounded into a fielder's choice that drove in a run, but a defensive error by the Wolves allowed two more runs to score on the play. McDonald later came around to score on a balk.

The Wolves scored their only run of the game – an unearned run – in the top of the seventh, but Roach closed the door as the Mavericks won 5-1. 

Sam Krapf (0-5) was tagged with the loss for Northern State after allowing five runs – two earned – in a six-inning complete game. 

GAME 2 – No. 19 Minnesota State 13, Northern State 1

Senior right-hander Mitchell Bauer (6-0) held the Wolves to one earned run in six innings, and the offense scored 12 runs in the first three innings, as the Mavericks went on to win the second game 13-1 in a seven-inning run-rule shortened game.  

Bauer picked up where Roach left off in game one – allowing one run on five hits over six innings. Bauer, who lowered his season ERA to 2.33, was efficient – throwing 66 pitches (51 strikes) for an average of 11 pitches per inning.  

The Maverick offense did the rest – scoring three runs in the first inning, four in the second, and five in the third to put the game out of reach. The Mavericks tacked on their final run in the fifth inning.

Junior catcher Noah Bluth hit his third home run of the season – a solo shot – over the left-field fence in the second inning.

Senior third baseman Eric Peterson led all Mavericks with four runs scored in game two, which increased his Minnesota State all-time scoring mark to 204. Peterson also increased his team-leading batting average to .392 in 2017.

Three Mavericks drove in two runs each: junior center fielder Josh Wenzel, junior first baseman Dylan Dresel and sophomore right fielder Jordan Hart.    

Sophomore right-hander Bobby Gauvreau pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning in relief of Bauer to close out the game. 

Phil Sauer (0-1), who started on the mound for Northern State, was on the short end of the decision after allowing five earned runs on two hits and three walks in one inning. He did not strike out a batter. 

The Mavericks go on the road for a four-game NSIC series at Bemidji State this weekend. Doubleheaders will be played on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., and on Sunday at noon in Bemidji, Minn.

Watch Minnesota State baseball Head Coach Matt Magers' postgame interview below.                                                                                      

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