Sioux Falls, S.D. --- Minnesota State sweeps the doubleheader against Sioux Falls on Wednesday with two seven inning wins by the scores of 4-1 and 12-1.
 
Minnesota State (36-10, 26-7 NSIC) was dominant on the bump with the pitching staff giving up only two runs and the offense providing 13 extra-base hits to extend the winning streak to seven games.
 
GAME 1 – Minnesota State 4, Sioux Falls 1
 
Junior Jon Ludwig pitched a two-hitter and gave up his only run of the season so far in the Mavericks sixth straight win.

Minnesota State scored first in the top of the first inning with two runs on three hits. Senior catcher Tom Imholte and freshman shortstop Nick Altermatt started the inning with infield singles. Junior designated hitter Ty Buck came up with one out and singled down the left field line to bring Imholte in to score and put Altermatt on third. In the next at bat, both runners advanced on a wild pitch allowing Altermatt to score.
 
The Mavericks picked up on run in the top of the fourth inning to extend their lead to 3-0. Sophomore designated hitter Cam Kline doubled to left field and moved to third on a passed ball in the next at bat. Sophomore third baseman Mitch Frederick brought in Kline on a sacrifice fly to center field.
 
Minnesota State put a fourth run on the board in the top of the sixth inning as Kline singled to open the frame. Junior pinch hitter Tory Miller laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Kline to second and then sophomore center fielder Jack Waletich doubled to left field to bring Kline around to score.
 
Sioux Falls scored its only run in the bottom of the sixth inning as freshman center fielder Connor King was hit by a pitch, sophomore shortstop Grant Lung singled as King advanced to third and sophomore designated hitter Alex Robinson executed a squeeze bunt to bring home King.
 
Hart led the way offensively going three-for-four at the plate. Kline, Waletich and senior left fielder Tyler Berg all had two hits in the game with Kline scoring two of the four runs. Buck, Frederick and Waletich all picked up an RBI in the game as well.
 
Junior right-hander Jon Ludwig (6-0) went the distance in the win, allowing one run on two hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts.
 
Sophomore left-hander Matt Graham (2-3) took the loss after pitching five innings and allowing four runs on 10 hits with one strikeout. Junior left-hander Jackson Olson and senior right-hander John Berroth pitched the final two scoreless innings for the Cougars, giving up two hits and striking out one total.

GAME 2 – Minnesota State 12, Sioux Falls 1
 
The Mavericks complete the doubleheader sweep with nine extra base hits and Freshman Kyle Nordby allowing one run across six innings in a mercy rule win for their seventh straight win.
 
Minnesota State jumps out to an early lead again, this time scoring four runs on two hits and two errors in the inning. Altermatt reached on another infield single with one out and then Hart reached on an error. Both runners moved up on a second error on the same play and the Buck walked to load the bases. Junior second baseman Teddy Petersen earned an RBI as he was hit by a pitch. Kline proceeded to clear the bases on a double to center field as he claims three more RBI.
 
The Mavericks collected four straight hits with two outs in the top of the second inning and the first resulted in two runs. Altermatt doubled for the first hit of the inning and then Hart came up and hit his 17th home run of the season over right field fence. Hart is now one home run away from tying the singe season record set by Kevin Dixon in 2005.

Two more runs with two outs crossed the plate in the top of the third inning to make to score 8-0. Frederick doubled with one out in the inning and with two outs, Imholte brought Frederick around to score on a single to center field. Altermatt hit the second double of the inning to left field that allowed Imholte to come in and score.
 
The lead stretched to 10-0 in the top of the sixth inning as Altermatt doubled to begin the inning, Petersen doubled with two outs to score Altermatt and Kline followed with a single to bring in sophomore pinch runner Jack Friedges.
 
Sioux Falls scored one in the bottom half of the inning for its only run of the game. King walked with one out and stole second in the next at bat. With two outs, senior first baseman Josh Rehwaldt tripled to center field to plate King.
 
The Mavericks scored the last two runs of the game in the top of the seventh inning to make the final score 12-1. Frederick reached on an error and advanced to second off the error. Imholte singled to right field pushing Frederick to third and then Imholte stole second in the next at bat. With two outs, Hart tripled to center field to bring in both runners for his third and fourth RBI of the game.
 
Altermatt went four-for-five at the plate with three doubles, three runs scored and an RBI in the game. Kline went three-for-four and had four RBI like Hart did to go along with his two hits.
 
Freshman right-hander Kyle Nordby (4-0) pitched a career-high six innings in the win, allowing one run on four hits and two walks with nine strikeouts. Freshman right-hander Jack Brown pitched the final scoreless inning with one walk, one strikeout and a double play.
 
Sophomore right-hander Payton Livingston (0-3) was handed the loss after going three innings, giving up eight runs (six earned runs) on nine hits and a walk with one strikeout. Senior left-hander Christian Lazar pitched three innings in relief and surrendered two runs on four hits with two strikeouts. Junior right-hander Charles Roskowiak pitched the final inning, allowing two runs (zero earned runs) on two hits with a strikeout.
 
Minnesota State will host Winona State in the final regular season series on Friday and Saturday. Games will begin at 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m., on Friday with a single game following at 12:00 p.m., on Saturday. The McCarthy Way dedication and Senior Day will take place before the game on Saturday.