Mankato, Minn. — Minnesota State split its two-game series with Minnesota Crookston, Tuesday afternoon at Franklin Rogers Park. The Mavericks won game one 8-7 in 12 innings and then the Golden Eagles took game two 4-3 in seven innings.
 
Minnesota State (14-6) collected its fourth walk-off win of the season in game one but could not complete the comeback in game two, scoring the three runs in the last two innings.
 
GAME 1 – Minnesota State 8, Minnesota Crookston 7
 
The Maverick bats rally to close gaps two different times before senior center fielder Tyler Berg lifted a sacrifice fly to drive in the game-winning run.

In the first inning, the Golden Eagles got off to a quick start by loading the bases with two outs. After sophomore designated hitter Travis Conoryea was hit by a pitch to drive in the game's first run, junior third baseman Scott Finberg belted a grand slam over the left field fence to put UMC up 5-0.
 
Minnesota State was able to answer back in the bottom half, putting up three runs of its own. Junior second baseman Teddy Petersen started the inning with a single and then senior catcher Tom Imholte laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Petersen over. Freshman shortstop Nick Altermatt brought in Petersen on a double to left field. Freshman first baseman Carter Elliott then singled to left field to score Altermatt to cut the score to 5-2. After junior designated hitter Jack Mattson walked, junior left fielder Ty Denzer singled to right field that allowed Elliott to score to put up the third run of the inning.
 
Minnesota Crookston notched a sixth run in the second inning as junior center fielder Landyn Swenson grounded into a fielder's choice and sophomore shortstop Griffin Fussy scored.
 
The Mavericks put up another three spot in the bottom of the second inning as a pair of doubles by freshman pinch hitter Mitch Frederick and Petersen kicked off the inning and scored the first run. Imholte followed with an RBI single to score Petersen to cut the score to 6-5. Walks by senior outfielder Jordan Hart and Altermatt loaded the bases for MSU with no outs. Elliott then grounded into a double play that scored Imholte and tied the game up 6-6.
 
The game went into extra innings as no runs were scored for the next eight innings. It was the top of the 11th inning when UMC brought in a run with a single to left field off the bat of sophomore right fielder Brock Reller, giving the Golden Eagles a 7-6 lead.
 
The Mavericks answered back in the bottom of the inning when Altermatt took a free base via a walk with the bases loaded to even the score at seven. The Mavericks finished off the comeback in the 12th inning, beginning with Denzer hit a triple to deep right center field with one out. Then Berg lifted a sacrifice fly to center field and brought in the winning run for the 8-7 win.
 
Petersen led the Maverick offense in game one with three hits, three runs scored and a run batted in. Denzer also looked sharp with three hits, an RBI and the game-winning run.
 
Freshman right-handed starter, Jack Zigan, pitched the first four innings and gave up six runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout. Freshman right-hander Zach Gustafson had the longest outing of his career by going six scoreless innings. Gustafson allowed four hits and three walks, but added five strikeouts. Freshman right-hander Kyle Nordby (1-0) finished the game and earned his first collegiate win by going two innings and giving up one run on five hits, while striking out two.
 
The Golden Eagles' starter, junior right-hander Garrett Hohn, pitched one plus innings and gave up five runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out one batter. Freshman right-hander Conner Richardson pitched the next seven innings and only gave up a run over three hits and two walks, while only striking out one as well. Sophomore left-hander Dalton Grose pitched three innings and gave up a run on a hit and four walks. Grose struck out a team high four batters. Junior right-hander Henry Pesch (1-1) took the loss in the 12th inning after getting two outs and allowing a run on a hit and struck out one.
 
 
GAME 2 – Minnesota State 3, Minnesota Crookston 4
 
The second game proved to be more pitcher friendly with no scoring through the first four innings, before three Maverick errors in the fifth inning allowed four runs and proved to be the difference.
 
The first two Golden Eagles' batters reached via Maverick errors in the fifth inning and then a walk loaded the bases. Senior first baseman Reed Hjelle got the scoring started by roping a single through the left side, scoring two runs in a bases-loaded situation. The next at bat, sophomore right-fielder Brock Reller claimed a bases-clearing ground rule double to straightaway center. The score stood 4-0 in favor of the Golden Eagles following four runs, two hits and three errors in the top half of the inning.
 
Mavericks would answer back with two runs of their own in the sixth inning. Petersen and Imholte got the Mavericks started with back-to-back singles. Then, Hart took four straight balls to load the bases leaving room for Alermatt to record a sacrifice fly, scoring the Mavericks first run of the game. With the score 4-1, the Mavericks continued to rally with Elliott lacing a ground ball single up the left side of the infield to notch another RBI making it a two-run deficit.
 
The Mavericks trailed the Golden Eagles 4-2 going into the bottom of the seventh inning. Frederick slapped a single into right field to start a one-out rally for the Mavericks. With two outs, Imholte drove Frederick in for an RBI, decreasing the Golden Eagle lead to just one run. However, the Maverick comeback efforts would go for none as the Mavericks fell to the Golden Eagles by a final score of 4-3.
 
Imholte had a perfect game at the plate going four-for-four, half of the team's hits in the second games, and claimed an RBI.

Junior left-hander Graeme Cherry (1-0) started the game for the Golden Eagles and earned the win after pitching six innings and giving two runs on sits hits. Cherry also struck out six batters, while walking two. Senior right-hander Louis Gerzin earned a save after pitching the last inning and gave up a run on two hits, while striking out two.
 
Sophomore right-hander Jimmy Larson (2-3) started the game for the Mavericks and took the loss after pitching five innings and giving up four runs (zero earned runs) and four hits. Larson also struck out seven hitters and walked three others. Junior Jack Rasmussen had a clean sixth inning, while only giving up a single hit and striking out two. Freshman right-hander Jack Brown pitched the seventh inning and walked one batter before recording three outs.
 
Minnesota State will head to Bemidji State to play the Beavers in a four-game, two-day series this weekend in Bemidji, Minn. Game times are slated for 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

Senior catcher Tom Imholte commented after today's games.