ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- Minnesota State (15-2, 12-1 NSIC) got back in the win column with a 3-2 victory over St. Cloud State (7-7, 5-4 NSIC) in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game at Joe Faber Field, Saturday afternoon.
Freshman infielder Adam Schneider led the Mavericks offensive charge in Saturday's tilt. The Altoona, Iowa, native posted a 2-for-4 afternoon with a team-high two RBI in the Mavericks' 3-2 win over the in-state rival Huskies.
The Huskies scored first in the third inning when Max Gamm grounded out to short allowing John Nett to score from third. SCSU had a 1-0 lead through three frames at Joe Faber Field.
In the top of the fifth, the Mavericks took their first lead with an RBI single through the right side off Schneider's bat that scored Ross Indlecoffer and Joey Werner to give MSU a 2-1 lead.
SCSU tied the game in the next half inning, making it 2-2, when Nett doubled to right field and scored Tate Wallat.
MSU took back the lead in the eighth with freshman infielder Jack Friedges hitting a double off the wall in left field and later scoring from third off an error by SCSU's shortstop. The Mavericks carried the 3-2 lead through the end of the game with Maverick right-handers Jack Zigan, who dealt scoreless seventh and eighth frames, and Hunter Even, who got the save, shutting down the Huskies secure MSU's 15th win.
The Mavericks claimed the hits advantage 8-6 and were as efficient as could be in the field with no errors, the Huskies had four.
On the bump, making his third start of the season was Maverick right-handed pitcher Nick Altermatt. The sophomore from Wanda, Minn., pitched five complete frames, allowed a pair of runs on four hits, struck out five and walked two in the no decision. In relief, Collin Denk went to work for an inning where he walked one, allowed a hit and struck out another. Then, Zigan shutout the Huskies in the seventh and eighth innings before the Maverick bats put him in line for his first win of the season. Ultimately, he allowed one hit, walked one and struck out another. Even worked the ninth and struck out two to earn his second save of the series and fourth of the season.
The loss went to SCSU's Trevor Koenig (0-3) after he pitched 8.2 innings and allowed three runs (two earned). He walked three and struck out nine.
Minnesota State is back on the road this week to play a one-day doubleheader at Southwest Minnesota State starting at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday.
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