ST. PETER, Minn. --- The Minnesota State baseball team opened its NSIC schedule on a high note Saturday afternoon in St. Peter, Minn., as the Mavericks defeated Minot State 7-0 and 14-7.

With the wins, MSU improves to 9-2 on the season, including a 2-0 NSIC record. With the loss, Minot State drops to 6-11, including a 0-2 conference record.

The Mavericks began the day with a 7-0 win in seven innings over the Beavers. Brendan Knoll (3-0) picked up the win as hit tossed a three-hit shutout, while striking out seven batters. Jordan Chappell (2-2) took the loss as he allowed five runs on six hits in 5.1 innings.

In the bottom of the first Ryan Wickman led off with a home run over the left field fence to put the Mavericks up 1-0. The Mavericks added to their lead in the bottom of the third as Hunter Ranweiler drove in Wickman with a fielder's choice to put MSU up 2-0.

In the bottom of the fifth Ben Livorsi drove in Wickman with an RBI-single up the middle to put MSU up 3-0. The sixth inning would see the Mavericks add four more runs to bring the final score to 7-0. Nick Altermatt drove in two runs with a single up the middle, before Wickman scored via a passed ball. An RBI-single to left field from Ranweiler would plate the fourth run of the inning for the Mavericks, before the Beavers got out of the inning. 

Wickman scored four of MSU's seven runs in game one, while Altermatt and Ranweiler each drove in two runs. 

Minnesota State finished the day with a 14-7 win over the Beavers in game two. Altermatt (3-0) picked up the win as he allowed four runs, on six hits, in five innings. Ricky Apodaca (1-2) took the loss as he allowed 10 runs on five hits and four walks in 1.1 innings.

The Mavericks opened the game with six runs in the first inning to go up 6-0. Wickman scored the first run of the game as he stole home, before Altermatt blasted a two-run home run to left center to put the Mavericks up 3-0. Ross Indlecoffer added a one-run double and Aidan Byrne posted a two-run single to put MSU 6-0 before the Beavers could get out of the inning.

Minnesota State added six more runs in the bottom of the second to extend its lead to 12-0. Ranweiler scored on a wild pitch, before Adam Schneider singled in two runs with a hit to right center. Indlecoffer drove in two more runs with a double to left field, before Wickman drove in Indlecoffer with a single up the middle.

The Beavers responded with a run in the top of the third before adding three more in the top of the fifth to cut the Maverick lead to 12-4. The Beavers managed to add three more runs leading into the eighth inning to cut MSU's lead to 12-7, but the Mavericks would score two more in the bottom of the eighth to put MSU up by seven at 14-7. Byrne drove in one with a sacrifice fly to right field, before Schneider scored via an error by the third baseman.

Minot State managed to get two runners on in the ninth but the Derek Lilledahl struck out the final two batters to secure MSU's 14-7 win.

Indlecoffer and Schneider each recorded three hits in game two. Indlecoffer also drove in three runs, along with Byrne. Jackson Uner, Jack Brown and Lilledahl each threw one shutout inning in relief as well.

Minnesota State wraps up its series with Minot State this Sunday as it takes on the Beavers at 12:00 p.m., at ISG Field in Mankato, Minn.

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