Mankato, Minn. — Minnesota State completes the four game sweep over Bemidji State Sunday afternoon at Bowyer Field. The first three games of the series counted as conference games with the last one being a non-conference game. The Mavericks won both games by a score of 9-1 today.
 
Minnesota State (18-7) only allowed two runs to Bemidji State over the weekend, while the Mavericks scored 41 in the four games.
 
GAME 1 – Minnesota State 9, Bemidji State 1
 
The Mavericks scored a run in five out of the nine innings in game one and allowed the first run of the series to the Beavers in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Minnesota State broke the scoreless tie as freshman shortstop Nick Altermatt was hit by a pitch with one out and the bases loaded in the top of the third inning. The Beavers escaped the bases loaded jam with two consecutive strikeouts to end the inning.
 
The big inning came in the top of the fourth for the Mavericks as they put four runs on the board to extend the lead to 5-0. Sophomore center fielder Jake Waletich got the inning going with one out as he singled up the middle. After Waletich stole second, junior left fielder Ty Denzer singled to left field and advanced all the way to third on a throwing error at the plate when Waletich scored. Junior designated hitter Jack Mattson was hit by a pitch and junior second baseman Teddy Petersen followed with a single through the left side to score Denzer. Senior catcher Tom Imholte reached on a bunt single and moved up the runners. With the bases loaded, Mattson scored on Altermatt's fielder's choice as an error was committed by the Beavers. Senior right fielder Jordan Hart drove in the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to right field.
 
Bemidji State scored for the first time on the weekend in the bottom of the fourth inning as junior first baseman Kade Nelson singled and brought in sophomore third baseman Wyatt White who reached on an error earlier in the inning to make the score 5-1.
 
Minnesota State got the run back in the top of the sixth inning as Petersen singled to open the inning, Imholte laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Petersen up and Altermatt singled through the right side to plate Petersen.
 
The Mavericks extended their lead in the top of the seventh inning as freshman third baseman Carter Elliott singled to open the frame. After a stolen base and two outs, Elliott ended up on third when Mattson singled and brought in Elliott.
 
Minnesota State scored its final two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Altermatt drew a one out walk and then junior first baseman Ty Buck singled with two outs. Elliott hit another single to load the bases before Waletich hit the third single of the inning to bring in Altermatt and Buck.
 
Petersen, Elliott, Waletich, Denzer and Mattson all had two hits in the game as Altermatt finished the game with three runs batted in.
 
Freshman right-handed starter Collin Denk (2-1) pitched six strong innings and gave up one unearned run on five hits and a walk, while striking out five. Another freshman right-hander, Zach Gustafson, pitched two scoreless innings in relief and allowed one hit and a walk with one punchout. Junior right-hander Jack Rasmussen pitched the final inning and also had a line of one hit, one walk and one strikeout
 
Senior right-hander Jesse Palafox (0-5) pitched four innings and took the loss after giving up five runs (three earned runs) on six hits. Palafox also struck out four and walked one. Freshman right-hander Zach Henderson pitched two innings in relief and allowed one run on two hits. Senior right-hander Tommy Geisenhof also allowed one run on two hits in an inning of work with one strikeout. Sophomore left-hander Jackson Back threw the final two innings as he gave up two runs on four hits, while walking one and striking out two.
 
GAME 2 – Minnesota State 9, Bemidji State 1
 
The Mavericks scored six runs before the Beavers could get on the board and then scored three more before the game ended.
 
Minnesota State scored quickly in the top of the first inning as Petersen was hit on the first pitch of the game and then promptly stole second. Imholte put down a sacrifice bunt and Altermatt followed with an RBI single to left field.
 
The Mavericks added two in the top of the third inning as freshman third baseman Mitch Frederick and Petersen both reached to open the inning. Imholte laid down another sacrifice bunt and then with two outs, Hart singled to bring in both runners.
 
Minnesota State scored another three runs in the top of the fourth inning with the help of three consecutive one out hits. Frederick plated Elliott and Denzer, who both singled, on a double to left-center field. Frederick moved up on a Petersen groundout and ended up scoring on a wild pitch.
 
The Beavers scored their one run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning as three two out singles loaded the bases. Sophomore shortstop Blake Huntley drew a bases loaded walk to bring in the one run.
 
The Mavericks scored their final three runs in the top of the sixth inning as freshman pinch hitter Rob Meidl doubled down the right field line and advanced to third on a balk to start the inning. Another pinch hitter, freshman Hunter Frericks, brought Meidl home on a groundout. Frederick and Imholte both ended up reaching before Altermatt drove them both in with a two out double to left-center field.
 
Altermatt led the way with three hits and three runs batted in throughout the game. Denzer and Frederick both had two hits with Frederick scoring three times and bringing in two runners.

Freshman right-hander Kyle Nordby (2-0) captured the win after going four innings and allowing one run on three hits. Nordby also walked two and struck out five batters. Right-handers Hunter Even (junior), Jack Brown (freshman) and Bobby Gauvreau (senior) pitched the final three innings, giving up one hit and struck out two hitters combined.
 
Freshman right-hander Alex Houlihan (0-1) lasted four innings in the loss and gave up six runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out one batter. Freshman right-hander Tommy Smith pitched two innings in relief and allowing three runs (one earned run) on four hits with one strikeout. Sophomore right-hander Kenny Morris pitched the final inning and gave up only one hit.
 
Minnesota State will play Minnesota Duluth in Superior, Wis., at Superior Wisconsin High School. A doubleheader will begin at 10:00 a.m., with the second game following at 12:00 p.m., on Tuesday.