MANKATO, Minn. -- Minnesota State won both games in a doubleheader against Minnesota Duluth to remain undefeated in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action after 10-0 and 11-8 victories at ISG Field, Thursday.
Senior outfielder Joey Werner had another big day for the Mavericks and was MSU's driving force offensively in the doubleheader. In game one, the Hastings, Minn., native went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and a grand slam for four RBI. In the second game, Werner went 3-for-5 with again with two runs and four RBI with a three-run shot.
GAME ONE (7 INNINGS) | Minnesota State 10, Minnesota Duluth 0
The Mavericks got out to a quick 2-0 lead when junior catcher Ben Livorsi launched a two-run home run to right center in the first inning to score himself and Werner.
Then, in the fifth frame, Werner extended the lead with his fifth home run of the season, a grand slam to make it 6-0.
The sixth inning saw the Mavericks run away with game one, jumping out to a 10-run total in runs for the seventh time in eight games this season. Carter Elliott, who had a single down the line that scored two, Jack Waletich and Teddy Petersen each had RBI in the rally, respectively.
In the game that ultimately finished in a 10-0 score, the Mavericks outhit the Bulldogs 9-6. For the fourth-straight game, MSU was perfect in the field with zero errors while UMD had one miscue.
Making his second start of the season, Maverick right-hander Collin Denk earned his second win of the season to move to 2-0. The Lakeville North product shutout the Bulldogs over six complete innings. He allowed six hits, walked one and struck out eight batters. In relief, Nathan Culley pitched a perfect seventh and final frame to conclude game one when he struck out the side.
For the Bulldogs, Alex Wattermann (0-1) had the loss as the Bulldogs' starting arm for game one. The right-handed pitcher went 4.1 innings, allowed four runs on six hits and struck out four Maverick hitters.
GAME TWO (9 INNINGS) | Minnesota State 11, Minnesota Duluth 8
After a big first-inning home run the afternoon's opening game, Livorsi struck again with a triple off the wall in right field to get MSU up 2-0 again. After Elliott singled down the leftfield line to score Livorsi, Ryan Friedges flew out deep enough to center to score him from third before Ty Denzer doubled to get MSU out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning.
In the top half of the second, UMD put up three runs in response by scoring on an outfield error, a sacrifice fly and a triple hit by Henry George. After two innings in the second game, the score was 5-3 in favor of MSU.
UMD claimed its first lead of the afternoon with a three-run home run from Tim Pokornowski in the fourth inning that made it 6-5. However, it didn't last long as MSU posted another five-spot on UMD in the bottom half. Ryan Friedges and Werner provided home runs before Elliott singled to score one more and make it 10-6.
In the seventh, the Mavericks and Bulldogs washed with a run each as UMD scored on a wild pitch and MSU's Werner doubled down the leftfield line to score Waletich. MSU led 11-7 through seven innings.
The Bulldogs got one run back in the eighth on an RBI double by Wattermann before the game ended 11-8 in the ninth with senior right-hander Hunter Even earning his first save of the season.
For the eighth time in nine games this season, MSU eclipsed the double-digit run mark by defeating UMD with 11 runs and by winning the hit battle, 14-11. The Mavericks had one error in game two while the Bulldogs did not have one mishap in the field.
On the hill for the Mavericks, right-handed junior Brendan Knoll, now 1-0 got the win for his work in relief. The Kasson, Minn., native went 3.1 innings while allowing two hits for a run. He walked two and retired two others on strikes. Sophomore right-hander Jack Zigan made his first start of the campaign for MSU and went 3.1 innings on the mound and allowed eight hits for six runs (three earned) in the no decision. Zigan struck out three Bulldogs. Jack Brown earned a hold in the win for pitching the Mavericks out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh and worked through the eighth. He allowed one hit and a run while walking one and striking out a pair. Earning his first save of the season was senior Even who struck out two UMD batters in the ninth.
Bulldogs' pitcher Aaron Wukmir (0-1) got the loss after he went 3.1 innings, allowed 10 runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out two others.
Next up, Minnesota State is scheduled to host the University of Mary this Saturday in Mankato for a seven and nine-doubleheader that is slated to start at noon.
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