What's on Tap: Minnesota State baseball continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with a doubleheader at Winona State on Tuesday, and a four-game conference series at University of Mary on Friday and Saturday. Tuesday's doubleheader with Winona State begins at 1:30 p.m., at Loughrey Field in Winona, Minn. Minnesota State is slated to play doubleheaders with University of Mary at 1:30 p.m., on Friday and 12:00 p.m., on Saturday in Bismarck, N.D.
 
Last Time on the Diamond: The Mavericks (10-7, 5-3 NSIC) lost three out of four games to Minot State in NSIC play on Thursday and Friday in Plattsmouth, Neb. The Mavericks won the first game of the series 1-0, before losing the final three games 4-2, 7-1 and 12-10, respectively. 
 
.300: Minnesota State enters the week ranked third in the NSIC with a .307 batting average. Six Mavericks are batting over .300 on the season: senior center fielder Josh Wenzel (.422), sophomore infielder Tommy McDonald (.409), senior shortstop Luke Waldek (.362), junior right fielder Jordan Hart (.351), senior catcher Noah Bluth (.344) and sophomore infielder Ty Buck (.340).
 
Clutch Hitting: Out of batters that have had at least 10 at-bats with runners in scoring position, three are batting .500 or better: senior catcher Noah Bluth (7-of-11, .636), senior shortstop Luke Waldek (8-of-16, .500) and junior outfielder Jordan Hart (8-of-16, .500). The Mavericks are led in hits with runners in scoring position by senior center fielder Josh Wenzel, who is 10-of-27 in those situations.   
 
Sensational Southpaw: Senior left-hander Aaron Rozek (2-1) enters the week leading the NSIC with 40 strikeouts in 2018. Rozek is one strikeout away from setting a new career high for strikeouts in a season. He struck out 41 batters during the 2015 season. Rozek also ranks fourth in the NSIC with a 1.73 ERA on the season.  
 
King of the Hill: Senior right-handed pitcher Dalton Roach (4-0) pitched a seven-inning complete game shutout in the Mavericks' 1-0 win in game one against Minot State on Thursday in Plattsmouth, Neb. Roach held the Beavers to four baserunners — two hits and two walks — while striking out six and walking two. He leads the NSIC with a .144 batting average against in 2018.
 
Roach earned All-American honors three times in 2017. He was named to the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-America First Team, the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division II All-America First Team and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-America Second Team. In addition, Roach joined Hoppe as the only two Mavericks to earn three All-American honors in one year. Hoppe did so in 2014. Roach is also the first Maverick to earn two All-American first team honors in the same season. Roach also became the first Maverick to earn the Brett Tomko Award — bestowed to a college baseball pitcher whose on the field performance is deemed the most outstanding at the NCAA Division II level.
 
Strike Them Out: The Maverick pitching staff enters the week with 171 strikeouts, which is the second most in the NSIC. The team leaders in strikeouts are: senior left-hander Aaron Rozek (40), senior right-hander Dalton Roach (32), senior right-hander Quinn Ahern (22) and junior right-hander Carlo Graffeo (22).
 
Scouting Winona State: The Warriors (5-10, 4-4 NSIC) are coming off winning three out of four games against Sioux Falls on Thursday and Friday. The Warriors split a doubleheader on Thursday (3-1, 0-14) before sweeping a twin bill on Friday (5-1, 4-3). 

Last season, the Mavericks swept a home doubleheader with the Warriors — winning the first game 12-1 and the second game 11-9.
 
Scouting University of Mary: The Marauders (2-16, 0-8 NSIC) were swept by Upper Iowa in a four-game series on Thursday and Friday in Fayette, Iowa. The scores were: 4-0, 8-7, 12-11 and 6-1. The Marauders will face the Mavericks after facing Minnesota Duluth in a doubleheader on Tuesday.

Last season, the Mavericks swept a four-game series with the Marauders at a neutral site in Minnetonka, Minn. The scores were: 3-0, 6-1, 4-3 and 6-3. 

Up Next: Minnesota State continues NSIC play with a doubleheader at Concordia-St. Paul on April 4.

-30-