Omaha, Neb. --- Minnesota State drops game one of the series to #6/7 St. Cloud State 7-1 Sunday night at Millard North High School.
 
The Mavericks (8-4) could not overcome a five run first inning by the Huskies (13-2) and fell in the 2019 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener.
 
The first six batters reached in the top of the first inning for the Huskies against sophomore right-hander Jimmy Larson. Junior designated hitter Larry Walker, senior shortstop Jordan Joseph and senior catcher Toran Shahidi hit RBI singles before the first out was recorded. After a strikeout, freshman second baseman Dylan Haskamp and senior third baseman Ethan Ibarra drove in another two runs to make the score 5-0 after one half inning.
 
Junior right-hander Hunter Even replaced Larson in the top of the second inning and did not give up a run until the top of the fourth inning when senior right fielder Mitch Mallek drove in another run off a single.
 
The Mavericks scored their lone run in the bottom of the sixth inning to make the score 6-1. Junior second baseman Teddy Petersen hit his second double of the day with one out and advanced to third base two batters later after the catcher threw the ball into center field trying to pick Petersen off. Junior designated hitter Ty Buck then ripped a triple down the right field line for his second triple of the year.
 
SCSU scored the final run of the game in the next half inning as Mallek scored on an Even wild pitch. Freshman right-hander Kyle Nordby replaced Even with one out in the inning and induced a double play as the Huskies hit a fly ball the right field and then senior right fielder Jordan Hart threw out a runner trying to advance the third.
 
Senior right-hander Matt Butler relieved St. Cloud State starter, senior right-hander Dominic Austing, and pitched the final three innings earning the save.

Petersen was the only Maverick with multiple hits with two doubles, while Buck added a triple and sophomore center fielder Jack Waletich hit a double.
 
Austing (3-0) pitched six innings in the win and struck out 10 batters, including eight in a row in innings three through five. He gave up one run on four hits and did not walk a batter.
 
Larson (1-2) was handed the loss after giving up five runs on five hits, a walk and a hit batter in one inning. He also struck out two batters in the inning. In relief, Even went five and a third innings, while giving up two runs on three hits and five walks. Even struck out six Huskies' batters. Nordby finished the game, going two and two-thirds innings of scoreless baseball. He only gave up one hit and struck out three batters.

Minnesota State will finish the series against St. Cloud State with a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 10:00 a.m., at Millard North High School. The first game will be a seven inning game with a nine inning game following in game two.