Bemidji, Minn. --- No. 19 Minnesota State baseball won both ends of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference twin bill with Bemidji State on Friday at BSU Baseball Field.

The Mavericks (32-7, 27-3 NSIC) defeated Bemidji State (13-25, 10-16 NSIC) 2-1 in game one and 11-6 in game two.

GAME 1 – No. 19 Minnesota State 2, Bemidji State 1

Junior southpaw Brody Rodning pitched a seven-inning complete game and freshman second baseman Tommy McDonald scored twice as the Mavericks defeated the Beavers 2-1 in game one.

After Rodning (5-2) worked around five Beaver hits through the first four innings to keep the game scoreless, junior shortstop Luke Waldek put the Mavericks up 1-0 in the top of the fifth with an RBI single through the left side of the infield that scored McDonald.

The Beavers broke through against Rodning in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 1-1, but the Mavericks responded with the eventual game-winning run in the top of the seventh. After the first two Mavericks were retired, McDonald doubled to left field and junior catcher Noah Bluth chased home McDonald with a single into left field – putting the Mavericks up 2-1.

Rodning worked around a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh to put the finishing touches on his seven-inning complete game. Rodning, who allowed one run on eight hits while striking out seven and walking one, tossed his fourth complete game of 2017 – the most complete games he has pitched in a single season as a Maverick. Rodning lowered his season ERA to 2.30.

Jack Stigman (2-4) was charged with the loss for the Beavers – going the distance while holding the Mavericks to two earned runs on four hits. He struck out four and walked two.  

GAME 2 – No. 19 Minnesota State 11, Bemidji State 6

Junior right-hander Ricky Digrugilliers pitched eight innings in relief and the Mavericks overcame a 4-0 deficit to win game two 11-6.

The Beavers came out swinging the bats – blitzing the Mavericks with four runs in the first inning and putting the Mavericks in a four-run hole. The Mavericks' junior right-handed starting pitcher NIck Belzer was chased from the game before he could record an out.

Digrugilliers (5-0) came on in relief for the Mavericks and prevented the Beavers from scoring again until the eighth inning – setting the stage for the Maverick comeback. He was nearly unhittable – retiring 18-consecutive batters faced from the second inning until the first batter in the eighth.   

Minnesota State started chipping away at the four-run deficit. Junior first baseman Dylan Dresel cut the Bemidji State lead in half with a two-run home run – his eighth of the season – in the third inning.

Two innings later, the Mavericks tied the game at 4-4 with two runs in the top of the fifth. Sophomore right fielder Jordan Hart drove in the first run of the inning with an RBI triple and junior catcher Noah Bluth plated the second run with an RBI single.

The Mavericks took the lead with four runs in the top of the sixth. Minnesota State had one hit in the inning – a two-RBI single off the bat of Dresel – but Minnesota State was the beneficiary of three Beaver errors. When the inning ended, the Mavericks led 8-4.

Minnesota State added on two more runs in the top of the eighth to increase its lead to 10-4. Senior third baseman Eric Peterson tallied his sixth home run of the season – a solo shot – and freshman second baseman Tommy McDonald garnered an RBI single. 
  
The Beavers got to Digrugilliers for two runs – one earned – in the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Queens, N.Y., native worked out of further trouble to end his day. Digrugilliers held the Beavers to two runs (one earned) on four hits, while striking out three and walking none in his eight innings. He improved his ERA to 1.87 in 33 2/3 innings pitched in 2017.

The Mavericks scored one more run in the top of the ninth to make the final score 11-6. Junior shortstop Luke Waldek hit a sacrifice fly.

Junior southpaw Aaron Rozek came in from the bullpen and tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning to end the game.

The losing pitcher was Luke Benge (2-2), who allowed four runs – all unearned – in 1 1/3 innings pitched in relief.

Minnesota State and Bemidji State conclude their four-game NSIC series with a doubleheader slated for 1:00 p.m., on Saturday at BSU Baseball Field.