Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State baseball split a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader against No. 1 Augustana at Bowyer Field on Saturday afternoon. Minnesota State won the first game 4-3 before suffering a 4-2 setback in game two.
 
With his six innings pitched in game one, senior right-hander Dalton Roach moved into second place on the Mavericks' career innings list with 269 2/3. Roach passed Aaron Heitzman's (1999-2002) total of 266 innings pitched. The Maverick record holder is Jason Hoppe (2011-14), who tossed 275 1/3 innings as a Maverick. 
 
With the doubleheader split, Minnesota State is now 28-11, 23-7 NSIC and Augustana is 38-4, 24-4 NSIC.
 
GAME 1 – Minnesota State 4, Augustana 3
 
After falling behind 3-0 early in the game, Minnesota State scored the final four runs, capped off by a walk-off sacrifice fly off the bat of Ty Buck, in a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Augustana in game one. 
 
Augustana scored single runs in the first, second and third innings to take a 3-0 lead.
 
The score remained 3-0 until the sixth inning when the Mavericks cut the deficit in half with two runs. With senior center fielder Josh Wenzel on first base with nobody out, sophomore second baseman Teddy Petersen laid down a bunt single and the ball was thrown away, allowing Wenzel to score and Petersen to go all the way to third base. Buck, a sophomore designated hitter, would then drive in Petersen on a groundout to the shortstop to make the score 3-2.
 
The Mavericks completed their comeback with two more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Senior shortstop Luke Waldek, doubled to right field, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior first baseman Dylan Dresel, and scored on a single through the left side off the bat of sophomore third baseman Tory Miller, tying the game at 3-3. Wenzel and Petersen followed with a hit by pitch and walk, respectively, setting the stage for Buck's walk-off sacrifice fly that scored Miller from third to make the final score 4-3. 
 
Senior right-hander Dalton Roach started on the mound and received a no-decision. Roach limited the Vikings to three runs on five hits over six innings. He struck out four and walked one in a 97-pitch effort.
 
Junior right-hander Carlo Graffeo (4-2), who pitched a scoreless seventh inning with one strikeout and one walk, picked up the win.
 
Michael Brandt (0-2), who came on in relief in the seventh inning, was on the short end of the decision for the Vikings. Brandt allowed two runs on two hits, one walk and one hit batsman in two-thirds of an inning. Jacob Blank, who started for the Vikings, did not factor into the decision after allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits over six innings. Blank walked one and struck out eight in a 98-pitch performance. 
 
GAME 2 – Augustana 4, Minnesota State 2
 
Minnesota State fell behind 4-0 and was unable to complete a comeback in a 4-2 loss to Augustana in game two. 
 
After Augustana scored two runs in the third inning and two runs in the sixth inning to build a 4-0 lead, senior center fielder Josh Wenzel got the Mavericks on the scoreboard with his second home run of the season — a solo blast to left field in the sixth inning that made the score 4-1. The Mavericks scored their second run on a single by senior first baseman Dylan Dresel in the seventh inning. However, the Mavericks were unable to get any closer and the game ended with the score 4-2 in favor of the Vikings.
 
Quinn Ahern (4-2), a senior right-hander, allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits over six innings. Ahern struck out five and walked one, while throwing 93 pitches. Junior right-hander Bobby Gauvreau pitched three shut-out innings in relief of Ahern. Gauvreau held the Vikings to two baserunners, while striking out four. 
 
Tyler Mitzel (7-0) earned the victory for the Vikings — holding the Mavericks to two runs on six hits over seven innings. Mitzel struck out four and walked two in a 102-pitch effort. 
 
Minnesota State concludes its four-game series against Augustana with a doubleheader at noon on Sunday at Bowyer Field. There will be a Senior Day ceremony prior to game one of the twin bill.