Auburndale, Fla. --- Minnesota State took down Gannon 7-2 in the fifth game of the Florida trip Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Mavericks (6-2) trailed the Golden Knights (6-2) 1-0 after one inning, but a three hour rain delay helped fuel MSU to improve to 4-1 in Florida.
 
The Golden Knights used a one out triple to right field by freshman center fielder Luke Callahan and a sacrifice fly by senior catcher Nate Cardy to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The rain hit before the second inning and caused a three hour delay.
 
The Mavericks stormed back to score four runs in the top of the third inning after the delay to take a 4-1 lead. After three straight singles by junior second baseman Teddy Petersen, senior catcher Tom Imholte and junior designated hitter Ty Buck, the bases were loaded with one out. Two runs came across when senior right fielder Jordan Hart was hit by a pitch and freshman first baseman Carter Elliott was walked. Freshman shortstop Nick Altermatt followed that up with a single that scored Buck and Hart.
 
Gannon pulled within 4-2 after Cardy hot a solo shot to left field to open up the bottom of the fourth frame.
 
Minnesota State quickly responded to get the run back in the top of the fifth inning. Buck doubled to lead off the inning and Hart followed with a single, advancing Buck to third. Elliott grounded into a double play, but Buck was able to score to make the score 5-2.
 
Zeros were put up on the board until the top of the ninth inning when MSU extended its lead with another two runs. Petersen hit a lead-off double to left field and then Imholte put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Petersen to third. Buck followed with a single to left field that scored Petersen, but Buck was thrown out trying to extend a single into a double. On his third hit of the game, Hart doubled to right center field and then Elliott doubled to bring in Hart for the final run of the game.
 
Hart has now had a multi-hit game in the past three contests to up his season average .485. Petersen, Buck, and Elliott all had a multi-hit game as well as the top five hitters in the lineup combing to go 11-19 (.579).

Freshman right-hander Jack Zigan (2-0) threw his first complete game of his collegiate career and the first for the Mavericks this season. In his nine innings, Zigan allowed two runs on nine hits, while striking out 10 batters and walking none.
 
Senior left-hander Ty Phelps (0-1) took the loss for the Golden Knights after going three innings and giving up four runs on five hits, while striking out one and walking three batters. Freshman right-hander Benjamin Visnesky finished the game for Gannon, allowing three runs on eight hits and one walk, while striking out five in his six innings of work.
 
Minnesota State will take on Findlay tomorrow starting at 5:00 p.m., EST in Auburndale, Fla.