Mankato, Minn. --- No. 12 Minnesota State baseball swept a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader with Upper Iowa at Dean Bowyer Field on Saturday to complete a four-game series sweep and clinch the NSIC regular season title.
The Mavericks (38-7, 33-3 NSIC) defeated Upper Iowa (18-26, 14-22 NSIC) 3-0 in game one and 12-2 in game two to extend their winning streak to 10 games.
In between games, the Mavericks celebrated senior day with an on-field ceremony honoring six seniors: Eric Peterson, Hunter Walsh, Austin Franzen, Mitchell Bauer, Hunter Harnisch and Trevor Patterson.
Minnesota State's home baseball field was also officially named Dean Bowyer Field with an on-field ceremony between games. The field is named after former-Minnesota State baseball head coach Dean Bowyer, who garnered 990-career coaching wins from 1977-2008.
GAME 1 – No. 12 Minnesota State 3, Upper Iowa 0
Junior right-hander Dalton Roach no-hit Upper Iowa for the first six innings as Minnesota State won 3-0 in game one.
After the first Peacock batter of the game reached base on a Maverick error, Roach (8-0) struck out the next eight batters he faced as part of a string of 17 consecutive batters retired. The runner, who reached base in the first, was caught stealing to keep Roach at the minimum for batters faced through six innings.
Roach's no-hit bid was broken up by the first batter in the top of the seventh, who tripled. Roach retired the next three batters to strand the runner at third and record the shutout in the scheduled seven-inning game. Roach held Upper Iowa to one hit while striking out 14 and walking none in a complete-game performance. He lowered his season ERA to 1.98.
The Maverick offense scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the third when senior third baseman Dalton Roach doubled in Luke Waldek to give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead. The run was the difference in the game.
The Mavericks increased their lead to 3-0 with single runs in the fourth and sixth innings. In the fourth, junior shortstop Luke Waldek walked with the bases loaded. Junior catcher Ryan Moffett tallied an RBI single in the sixth.
The Mavericks held on for the 3-0 win as neither team scored the rest of the game.
Mitch Moser (2-2) was charged with the loss for the Peacocks after surrendering three runs – two earned – on five hits scattered over five innings. He walked two and struck out five.
GAME 2 – No. 12 Minnesota State 12, Upper Iowa 2
Minnesota State scored the first seven runs on its way to a 12-2 win over Upper Iowa in game two. The Mavericks scored two in the first, three in the third, two in the fourth, two in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh earn the win by the run rule.
Sophomore outfielder Jordan Hart and senior third baseman Eric Peterson each homered in the game. Hart hit a solo homer that put the Mavericks up 2-0 in the first inning, and Peterson connected for a solo shot in the third. Hart and Peterson now have nine and seven home runs on the season, respectively – both career highs for home runs in a single season as a Maverick.
Junior first baseman Dylan Dresel, freshman pinch hitter Nate Meyers, freshman pinch hitter Jack Mattson, freshman second baseman Tommy McDonald, and Junior shortstop Luke Waldek also drove in runs for the Mavericks.
Junior right-hander NIck Belzer (5-0) picked up the win for Minnesota State – holding Upper Iowa to two runs on three hits over five innings. He struck out seven and walked none.
Junior right-hander Ricky Digrugilliers and sophomore right-hander Bobby Gauvreau each pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
Jay Kiel (1-3) was charged with the loss for the Peacocks after surrendering five runs – all earned – on five hits in three innings pitched. He did not record a strikeouts and walked two.
The Mavericks conclude regular season play with a four-game NSIC series at Augustana next weekend.
Watch Minnesota State baseball head coach Matt Magers' postgame interview below.
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