Omaha, Neb. --- Minnesota State splits the doubleheader with #6/7 St. Cloud State on Monday, dropping the three-game series. The Mavericks won the first of two today 10-5, before the Huskies won the rubber game 8-2.
 
Minnesota State (9-5) had won the opening series of conference play for the past two seasons against Southwest Minnesota State and the University of Mary.
 
GAME 1 – Minnesota State 10, St. Cloud State 5
 
Minnesota State had three different players launch three-run home runs on the way to the 10-5 win.
 
Senior right fielder Jordan Hart started the home run parade in the bottom of the first inning, hitting his sixth of the year to left center field. Junior second baseman Teddy Petersen and junior designated hitter Ty Buck both singled earlier in the inning and scored on the home run.
 
Petersen hit the next home run in the bottom of the second inning to left field for his second home run of the season. Senior center fielder Tyler Berg reached on an error and freshman left fielder Hunter Frericks singled before scoring on the three-run shot.
 
It was freshman shortstop Nick Altermatt's turn as he hit his first collegiate home run over the left field fence to extend the lead to 9-0. Buck reached on a fielder's choice and Hart followed with a double, then scored on the shot. The Mavericks chased the Huskies' starter, senior left-hander Sheldon Miks, after three and two-thirds innings.
 
It was smooth sailing for Mavericks' starter, sophomore right-hander Cam Kline, through five innings, before being touched up for five runs in the sixth inning. Junior second baseman Aaron Hammann singled and then junior center fielder Najee Gaskins belted a two-run home run himself to cut into the deficit. Senior first baseman Matthew Meyer scored on a junior left fielder Lenny Walker double before senior pinch hitter Caeden Harris brought in senior right fielder Mitch Mallek and Walker to score the five runs in the inning.
 
MSU brought in one more as freshman first baseman Carter Elliott singled in Altermatt in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Hart, Altermatt and Elliott all went three-for-four in the game, driving in seven runs. Petersen and Imholte both added two hits as well.

Kline (4-0) pitched the seven inning complete game to stay perfect on the season. He allowed five runs on eight hits and one walk, while striking out a career high 11 batters.
 
Miks (4-1) took his first loss of the season after giving up nine runs (eight earned runs) on 11 hits and a walk in those three and two-thirds innings, adding five strike outs. Sophomore right-hander Riley Ahern, senior left-hander Zach Sigglekow and junior right-hander Zach Walz combined to go the final two innings, allowing one run spread across five hits and a walk, while striking out three.
 
GAME 2 – St. Cloud State 8, Minnesota State 2
 
St. Cloud State took the 3-2 lead over Minnesota State in the fifth inning in the back half of the doubleheader and did not relinquish it.

The Huskies struck in the top of the first inning off sophomore right-handed starter Trevor Divinski to take the 1-0 lead. Gaskins doubled to open the game and Walker drove him in with a two-out single to center field.  
 
The Mavericks seized the lead in the bottom of the second inning, scoring their only two runs of the ball game. MSU hit four straight singles to open the frame with junior left fielder Ty Denzer collecting the two RBI as Hart and Altermatt scored.
 
St. Cloud State tied the game up in the top of the fourth inning when Hammann singled up the middle, driving in senior shortstop Jordan Joseph.
 
Freshman right-hander Collin Denk replaced Divinksi then SCSU took the 3-2 lead in the next inning as Joseph hit a deep sacrifice fly to left field, bringing in Mallek.
 
A Meyer double and Mallek single led to RBI for Walker on his double to left field in the top of the sixth inning. Joseph followed with a single to drive in Walker to extended the Huskies' lead to 6-3.
 
A total of four Minnesota State errors in the top of the ninth inning led to two runs for St. Cloud State to make the final score of 8-2.
 
Altermatt had another three-for-four performance, while Berg added his first multi-hit game of the season.
 
Blake Flint (2-0) threw seven innings of two-run ball to help in aiding the win for the Huskies. He allowed six hits and two walks, while striking out eight hitters. Shannon Ahern finished the game, going two innings, striking out four and giving up only one hit.   
 
Divinski did not factor into the decision after going four innings and allowing two runs on six hits and three walks. He also struck out six Huskies' batters. Denk (0-1) received the loss in the decision after giving up four runs on five hits in two and a third innings of work, while striking out two. Junior right-hander Jack Rasmussen, senior right-hander Bobby Gauvreau, freshman right-hander Zach Gustafson and freshman right-hander Jack Brown combined to go the final two innings for the Mavericks. They gave up two runs (one earned run) on one hit and two walks, while striking out two.
 
The Mavericks will face Southwest Minnesota State in a mid-week matchup on Wednesday, March 20 at a site and time to be determined.