Sioux Falls, S.D. --- Fourth-seeded Minnesota State baseball began the 2018 NSIC Baseball Tournament with a 7-4 loss to fifth-seeded Concordia-St. Paul at Sioux Falls Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
 
With the loss, Minnesota State (31-15) moves into the elimination bracket and is scheduled to face No. 1-seeded Minot State at 12:00 p.m., on Thursday at Karras Park in Sioux Falls, S.D.  
 
In the game, senior right-hander Dalton Roach (8-2) became Minnesota State's program leader for career innings pitched. Roach passed Jason Hoppe's total of 275 2/3 when he recorded the first out of the second inning. Roach finished the day with 281 2/3 innings pitched in his Maverick career.
 
Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul (24-14) were tied 2-2 through the first six innings. The Golden Bears took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the Mavericks' junior right fielder Jordan Hart hit a chopper between the third baseman and shortstop that tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third. The Golden Bears took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth, but the Mavericks promptly tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom half of the inning on an infield single off the bat of junior first baseman Dylan Dresel.
 
The Golden Bears went on to score two runs in the seventh inning and three in the eighth to put the Mavericks in a 7-2 hole. The Mavericks scored a single run in the bottom of the eighth on Hart's team-leading seventh homer of the season and another run in the ninth inning on a single to center field off the bat of sophomore designated hitter Ty Buck. However, the Mavericks were unable to get any closer as the game ended with the score 7-4 in favor of the Golden Bears.
 
Roach was on the short end of the decision — allowing four runs on eight hits over seven innings. He struck out five, did not walk a batter, and surrendered one home run in an 88-pitch effort. 
 
Zach Lauzon (4-4) picked up the win for the Golden Bears after holding the Mavericks to two runs on eight hits over six innings. He struck out seven and walked one in a 90-pitch performance.
 
The Mavericks outhit the Golden Bears 15-10, but left 12 runners on base compared to the Golden Bears total of six.