St. Cloud, Minn. --- With the game tied 2-2 and the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the 11th inning, senior catcher Hunter Harnisch stepped to the plate. Harnisch was hit by a pitch – scoring junior center fielder Josh Wenzel from third base to seal a 3-2 walk-off win for top-seeded Minnesota State over fourth-seeded Wayne State in the 2017 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Baseball Tournament on Thursday at Joe Faber Field.  
 
With the win, the Mavericks (42-9) stayed on the winners' side of the bracket where they will face third-seeded St. Cloud State at Joe Faber Field on Friday at noon.
 
Junior left-hander Brody Rodning, who received a no-decision, started on the mound for the Mavericks and held the Wildcats (29-23) to five baserunners – two hits and three walks – over eight shut-out innings.
 
Senior left fielder Hunter Walsh got the Mavericks on the scoreboard first with a solo homer to right-center field in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 1-0.
 
Junior first baseman Dylan Dresel drove in the second Minnesota State run on a single in the eighth inning – scoring senior third baseman Eric Peterson, who had tripled, from third base. Peterson, who made is 200th career start, scored the 221st run of his career – extending his program record for career runs scored.     
 
However, the Mavericks 2-0 lead vanished in a heartbeat. The first two Wildcats doubled and walked, respectively, to start the bottom of the ninth inning against Maverick left-hander Aaron Rozek. Rozek bounced back with a strikeout, but the next batter doubled to score both runners and destine the game for extra innings. The two runs were the first earned runs Rozek had allowed in 2017. He went 28 innings on the season before giving up an earned run.
 
Junior right-hander Ricky Digrugilliers (7-0) came out of the bullpen to work out of further trouble in the ninth and the keep the game tied 2-2 until Harnisch's walk-off hit by pitch in the bottom of the 11th gave the Mavericks the 3-2 victory. Digrugilliers limited Wayne State to one hit over 2 2/3 innings, while striking out one and walking none, to pick up the win.     
 
Bobby St. Pierre (5-6), who was charged with the loss, worked the final 2 1/3 innings for Wayne State – allowing five hits, a walk, and the game-winning run.  

Watch head coach Matt Magers' and Eric Peterson's postgame interview with Katie Emmer below.