Mauston, Wis. --- Minnesota State earns its first sweep of the season with two wins over Southwest Minnesota State in Mauston, Wis., at the Woodside Sports Complex. The Mavericks won game one 2-1 in eight innings and then game two 8-1.
 
Minnesota State (11-5) threw two complete games in the sweep and now have five complete games on the season.
 
GAME 1 – Minnesota State 2, Southwest Minnesota State 1
 
Senior outfielder Jordan Hart came through in the clutch for the Mavericks, hitting a walk-off single through the left side to win game one in eight innings.
 
The Mustangs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as senior second baseman Jayden Fleck doubled to the left center gap, bringing in senior center fielder Connor Johnson.  
 
The Mavericks answered in the bottom of the opening frame as junior second baseman Teddy Petersen opened the inning with a double to left field. After a wild pitch moved Petersen to third base, senior catcher Tom Imholte grounded out to the shortstop and plated Petersen.
 
The Mavericks starter, freshman right-hander Jack Zigan, settled down after the opening inning, sending the Mustangs down in order in the three out of the four following innings and proceeded to throw his second complete game of the season.
 
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Imholte walked and junior first baseman Ty Buck singled off the pitcher with two outs, setting the stage for Hart. Southwest Minnesota State set its defense up for Hart to pull the ball. With the shortstop playing up the middle, Hart singled through the hole where the shortstop usually is, giving the Mavericks the 2-1 victory.
 
Seven different Mavericks recorded a hit in the game with the one double by Petersen.
 
Zigan (2-0) finished the game with 11 strikeouts and one walk, while only giving up the single run.

The Mustang's starter, sophomore right-hander Spencer Schroeder, did not receive a decision as he went five and a third innings and only gave up one run. Schroeder finished with one strikeout and two walks. Sophomore left-hander Teddy Broxterman (0-1) took the loss coming out of the pen for SMSU. Broxterman went two and a third innings with two strikeouts and a walk before giving up the game-winning run.
 
GAME 2 – Minnesota State 8, Southwest Minnesota State 1
 
The bats came alive in the second game as the Mavericks collected 11 hits with five of them going for extra bases in the 8-1 win in seven innings because game one went into extra innings.

Hart started the scoring for the Mavericks in the bottom of the first inning as he drove in Petersen, who reached by an error from the Mustangs.  
 
Minnesota State put up a four spot in the next inning to take a comfortable 5-0 lead. Freshman shortstop Nick Altermatt opened the inning with a double to left field. Sophomore designated hitter Cam Kline traded places with Altermatt to take a 2-0 lead. After freshman left fielder Hunter Frericks reached on another Mustang error, Petersen launched his third home run of the season over the left field fence to take the 5-0 lead.
 
The Mustangs scored their only run of the game in the top of the fourth inning. Sophomore right-hander Jimmy Larson, who started the game for the Mavericks, loaded the bases with no outs in the inning. Junior left fielder Tanner Strommen bounced into a 6-4-3 double play that scored Johnson. Larson got the next hitter to fly out to center field, limiting the damage to only one run.
 
Junior center fielder Tyler Berg singled to lead off the bottom of the four inning and ended up scoring on a wild pitch to get the one run back.
 
Petersen scored the final two runs for Minnesota State as he blasted his second home run of the game, and fourth of the season, scoring Frericks who got on after he was hit by a pitch.
 
Larson pitched the second consecutive complete game for the Mavericks and only gave up one run on five hits. He also struck out five Mustang hitters and did not issue a walk.
 
Sophomore left-hander Wes Sarsland (0-1) started the game for SMSU and gave up five runs (one earned) on four hits. Junior right-hander Spencer Rudnik replaced Sarsland in the top of the third inning and gave up one run, while striking out four in two innings of work. Sophomore right-hander James Hardy was the only Mustang pitcher to not give up a run as he went one inning and issued two walks. Sophomore right-hander Donny Schroeder pitched the last inning for SMSU and gave up two runs, while striking out two.
 
The Mavericks will have a quick turnaround as they face Minot State tomorrow at Franklin Rogers Park in Mankato, Minn. A doubleheader will be played at 10:00 a.m., and 12:00 p.m., tomorrow with a single game following on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m.