Sterlington, La. --- Minnesota State baseball sweeps a non-conference doubleheader over Arkansas-Monticello at Sterlington Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon. Minnesota State shutout the Weevils in the first game 5-0 and won game two in convincing fashion 11-1.
 
Minnesota State (2-0) won its season opener for the tenth straight year under Head Coach Matt Magers with the win in game one.
 
GAME 1 – Minnesota State 5, Arkansas-Monticello 0
 
Minnesota State belted two home runs in the season opener on the way to the 5-0 win.
 
The Mavericks and Weevils were tied 0-0 through the first three innings, but the Mavericks scored three runs in the fourth, then one run in the fifth and sixth to break the game open.
 
Senior left fielder Jordan Hart, who entered the season with the fifth-most home runs in program history with 25 (Josh Smith owns the school record with 29), went one-for-five and drove in the Mavericks' first three runs of the season with a no-doubt three-run home run to left center field in the third inning.
 
Junior infielder Ty Buck had a multi-hit game and reached base four times by going two-for-three with two walks. Buck smashed a solo shot to dead center field in the third inning to give the Mavericks a 4-0 lead.
 
Senior infielder Tory Miller drove in the fifth run for the Mavericks on a single down the left field line and bringing in senior catcher Tom Imholte. Imholte went one-for-one with a single and a sac bunt, hit by pitch and a walk.
 
Senior right-hander Jon Ludwig (1-0) earned the win in his first start of the 2019 season. Ludwig went six innings and collected nine strikeouts, while issuing two walks. He only allowed three hits with one going for extra bases.
 
Sophomore right-hander Jimmy Larson went the next three innings, striking out six batters and allowing two walks.
 
Peyton Sullivan (0-1) was handed the loss for the Weevils after allowing three earned runs on four hits over four innings. Sullivan struck out three and hit one batter. 
 
GAME 2 – Minnesota State 11, Arkansas-Monticello 1
 
Minnesota State scored five runs in the fifth inning on its way to a 11-1 win in the seven inning game two.
 
The Mavericks jumped out to an early two-run lead in the first inning and then scored one in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth and five in the fifth. The Weevils' freshman infielder Kyle Frame drove in the only run for UAM with a single in the seventh inning.  
 
In the first inning, Imholte got on base by way of a dropped third strike and ended up scoring on the error on the right fielder in Buck's at bat. Buck ended up at third and scored on Hart's groundout to the first baseman.
 
Miller went one-for-three with an RBI double in the second inning and drove in sophomore outfielder Jack Waletich who also went one-for-three with two walks.
 
Buck had another multi-hit game with two singles and his second solo shot of the day in the third inning to center field and extend the lead to 4-0. 
 
Junior second baseman Teddy Petersen went two-for-five with two single and scored in the fourth and fifth innings. Freshman shortstop Nick Altermatt also had a multi-hit game with a double and a triple. Altermatt, Waletich, Miller and freshman first baseman Carter Elliott each scored in the fifth inning.
 
Sophomore right-hander Cam Kline (1-0) earned the win in his first start of the season. Kline went five innings, while striking out six batters, giving up two hits and did not issue a walk.
 
Junior right-hander Jack Rasmussen pitched the sixth inning in relief and worked around a lead-off single with a fielder's choice and two flyouts.
 
Freshman right-hander Collin Denk worked the seventh inning, giving up three singles, a run and striking out one.
 
Freshman Jarod Seals (0-1) took the loss after giving up four runs (two earned runs) on four hits. He totaled three strikeouts and issued one walk.