Mankato, Minn. — Minnesota State splits a mid-week doubleheader with Minnesota Duluth on Tuesday at Superior Wisconsin High School. The Bulldogs won game one 10-6 before the Mavericks came back and won a rain-shortened game two 17-4 in six innings.
 
Minnesota State (19-8, 10-5 NSIC) had 11 total extra base hits in the two games, including six doubles and five home runs. The Bulldogs had a five-run fifth inning in game one that the Mavericks could not overcome, but the bats came alive in game two for the win.
 
GAME 1 – Minnesota Duluth 10, Minnesota State 6
 
The Mavericks took an early lead before the Bulldogs tied the game in the second inning and then took over the lead for good in the fourth inning on the way to the win.

Minnesota State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as senior right fielder Jordan Hart blasted his eighth home run of the season. Freshman shortstop Nick Altermatt scored on the play as he walked the at-bat before.
 
Minnesota Duluth cut the MSU lead in half in the bottom of the first inning as senior third baseman Ben Danielson hit a two-out single and brought in junior right fielder Drew Stewart.
 
The Bulldogs then knotted the game up at two in the bottom of the second inning as junior catcher Reid Rubio reached on a Maverick error and freshman shortstop McCale Peterson scored on the play.
 
A pair of home runs and an RBI double gave Minnesota Duluth a 7-2 advantage in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore second baseman Andres Brown led off the inning with a solo shot to left center field and senior first baseman Tyler Wojciechowski followed with a three-run blast with no outs as sophomore center fielder Henry George and freshman pinch hitter Tim Pokornowski scored. Freshman designated hitter Totsen Mann and Peterson hit back-to-back one-out doubles with Peterson driving in Mann that chased Mavericks starter, freshman right-hander Jack Zigan, from the game.
 
The Bulldogs extended their lead as three more came across to score in the bottom of the fifth inning. George and Pokornowski hit RBI singles with no outs recorded and then Wojciechowski hit his second home run of the day after Pokornowski was thrown out trying to steal second base.
 
The Mavericks attempted a comeback in the top of the seventh inning as four runs crossed the plate. Freshman third baseman Mitch Frederick got the inning started with a one-out single and freshman pinch hitter Jack Friedges followed with a double to left center field. Freshman pinch hitter Mikey Fredrickson hit a single that brought in Frederick. With two outs, sophomore pinch hitter Cam Kline blasted a three-run home run to right field for his first home run of the season to make the final score 10-6.

Senior right-hander Nick Dorfman (1-1) earned the win after pitching six innings, giving up two runs on five hits. Dorfman also struck out four and walked two. Sophomore right-hander Sean Flaherty pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief, giving up four runs on five hits. Peterson came in from shortstop to record the final out of the game by way of a strikeout.

Zigan (2-1) took his first loss of the season after pitching three and a third innings, allowing seven runs on 11 hits while striking out five. Freshman right-hander Zach Gustafson came on in relief and pitched two and two-thirds innings and allowed three runs on six hits, while striking out three.
 
GAME 2 – Minnesota State 17, Minnesota Duluth 4
 
The Mavericks cranked out 17 runs on 15 hits in the rain-shortened game two. In the six innings, MSU have five doubles and three home runs out of the 15 hits.
 
Hart was able to give Minnesota State a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-run home run for the second game in a row. This was Hart's second home run of the day and ninth home run of the season as Altermatt scored on the play after another walk.
 
The Mavericks pushed across four runs in the top of the third inning to take a 6-0 advantage. Junior first baseman Ty Buck and Kline hit back-to-back solo home runs to open up the frame. This was Kline's second home run of the day and the season, while Buck hit his third of the season. After a groundout, Frederick singled and advanced on a pass ball. Senior center fielder Tyler Berg then walked and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Friedges then lifted a sacrifice fly to right field that moved up both runners, scoring Frederick. Senior catcher Tom Imholte singled down the left field line to bring in Berg for the final run of the inning.
 
Minnesota Duluth answered in the next half inning with four runs to make the score 6-4. George doubled to score Brown, but was caught trying to advance to third base for an out. An error allowed Wojciechowski to reach and eventually score on Mann's double. Senior left fielder Cory Krolikowski then singled to bring in the final two runs of the inning.
 
Minnesota State then exploded for nine runs in the top of the fourth inning as 14 batters were sent to the plate. With runners on second and third and no outs, Kline singled up the middle to bring home Hart and Buck. Junior second baseman Teddy Petersen followed with another single as Kline moved up to third. Kline then scored on an error, while Petersen moved up to second on the play. Another error allowed Petersen to move up to third and then a third error allowed Berg to reach, ending up at third base, with Petersen scoring. Friedges lifted a double to left center field to bring in Berg and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Imholte walked and stole second before Alltermatt also doubled to plate Friedges and Imholte. Hart singled to reach base for the second time in the inning and also brought in Altermatt on the play. Buck and Kline were then both hit by a pitch to load the bases before Petersen hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Hart for the final run of the inning.
 
The Mavericks added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning before it is all said and done to make the final score 17-4. Hart led off the inning with his third home run of the day and his 10th on the season. Buck and Kline then hit back-to-back doubles that brought around Buck to score.
 
Kline finished a perfect three-for-three at the plate in game two and went four-for-four on the day, including the pinch hit in game one. He had two home runs, a double, seven RBI, three runs scored and a walk on the day. Hart went three-for-four in game two and hit three home runs on the day with six RBI, five runs scored and a walk. Buck and Friedges also had two hits in game two.

Sophomore right-hander Jimmy Larson (3-3) pitched all six innings for the Mavericks, giving up four runs (one earned run) on eight hits and two walks, while striking out eight.
 
Freshman right-hander Aaron Wukmir started for the Bulldogs and gave up six runs on six hits and five walks in two and two-thirds innings of work. Senior right-hander Jeremy Thorson recorded one out, but gave up four runs on two hits and two walks. Freshman right-hander Zach Matthews also only recorded one out and gave up four runs (three earned runs) on two hits and a walk. Senior right-hander Even Vick finished the final two and two-thirds innings of the game and surrendered three runs on five hits.
 
Minnesota State will travel to Bismark, N.D., to take on U-Mary in a three game series on Saturday and Sunday. Games will be played at 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m., on Saturday with a single game following on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.