Emporia, Kan. ---  Seventh-rated Minnesota State saw its season come to an end with a 3-2 loss to Central Oklahoma at the 2017 NCAA Division II Baseball Central Region Tournament Sunday afternoon at Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia, Kan.

The Mavericks led 2-0 after three innings on the strength of solo home runs by junior first baseman Dylan Dresel and senior catcher Hunter Harnisch.  Dresel's home run, his team-leading 13th of the year, came in the first inning, while Harnisch belted his second round-tripper of the season in the third inning.
 
The Bronchos responded with a a solo homer from Caleb Peters in the bottom of the fifth, which cut the Maverick lead to 2-1. Central Oklahoma scored the tying and go-ahead runs in the bottom of the seventh. After a sun-aided double, the Bronchos had an RBI single up the middle from Trae Smith to tie the game. Later in the inning, with runners on first and third, the Bronchos' runner from first broke for second base on a pitch. The Mavericks threw down to second and the Bronchos' runner on third ran home to score the decisive run.  
 
The Minnesota State offense was unable to mount a comeback and Central Oklahoma held on for the 3-2 victory.
 
Junior right-hander NIck Belzer, who started on the mound for the Mavericks, allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits over six innings. Belzer, who was charged with the loss and finishes the season with a 6-2 record, walked one and struck out six.
 
Greg Hyde (4-2), who tossed 1 2/3 scoreless frames in relief for Central Oklahoma and struck out four, earned the win. J.J. Rogers, who started for Central Oklahoma, received a no-decision after allowing two earned runs on six hits over six innings. Rogers walked one and struck out four.     
 
The Mavericks, who finished 2017 with a 46-11 overall record, claimed their 10th Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular season championship and the fifth in the last eight years. Minnesota State also won their fifth NSIC Tournament championship and the first since 2014 in earning an NCAA Tournament appearance for the 12th consecutive year. Minnesota State's 36 NCAA DII Baseball Tournament appearances are second only to Florida Southern's 41.

View postgame interviews with head coach Matt Magers and senior third baseman Eric Peterson.