SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- The Minnesota State baseball team swept Sunday's doubleheader with a 2-1 victory in game one and 7-6 extra-inning win in the second game to clinch the three-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference series over the University of Mary, Sunday afternoon at Mercy Field.
With the pair of wins, MSU improved to 13-4 (6-2 NSIC) while UMary fell to 9-11 (1-4 NSIC).
GAME ONE (7 INNINGS) | Minnesota State 2, University of Mary 1
Junior right-handed pitcher Nick Altermatt was dealing in game one for the Purple and Gold. The Wanda, Minn., native pitched seven innings en route a complete game on the mound which improved his record to 4-0 on the season. Altermatt allowed four hits and one run while striking out seven. As a two-way threat, Altermatt also made noise with the bat, going two-for-three in game one before driving in the eventual winning run during the bottom of the fifth frame.
In the defensive game that saw only one hit for each side throughout the first three innings, the Marauders and Mavericks each traded one run in the fourth to open the scoring. UMary scored first after a double down the rightfield line by Calvin James put a pair in scoring position for Ty Jones to score one on a sacrifice fly to center. MSU tied the game in the bottom half on a wild pitch that allowed Cam Kline to score on a head-first slide into home. After four innings in game one, both sides were tied 1-1.
The Mavericks grabbed the lead with one run in the fifth inning. Pinch running for MSU, Jack Friedges scored from third on a single through the left side off Kline's bat. The Mavericks found themselves grasping a 2-1 advantage after five innings thanks to their second hit of the game.
Despite falling in game one, the Marauders outhit the Mavericks 4-2. There were no errors in Sunday's first game of the doubleheader.
GAME TWO (10 Innings) | Minnesota State 7, University of Mary 6
After Mikey Gottschalk singled through the left side to drive in Ryan Wickman from second base, Altermatt continued his tear from game one with a two-run home run to left in the third inning. When the third inning came to a conclusion, the Mavericks owned a 3-0 lead over the Marauders.
In the fourth inning, MSU extended its lead when Ben Livorsi flew out deep to right which allowed Hunter Ranweiler to score from third on a sacrifice fly, making it a 4-0 game.
James tied the game with one swing of the bat for UMary in the top of the sixth inning. His grand slam to right field evened the score at 4-4.
Marauders' designated hitter Noah Hull broke the scoreless tie in the seventh on an RBI triple that sailed over Wickman's head in center field. The Mavericks evened the score in the bottom half of the seventh when Ross Indlecoffer scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-5.
UMary reclaimed a one-run lead in the eighth when Jones made contact to shallow right field that resulted in a fielder's choice that scored Michael Polson to make it a 6-5 game.
After the Mavericks tied the game in the bottom of the ninth on a wild pitch, they prevailed in the bottom of the tenth inning when Mikey Fredrickson scored the game-winning run on a balk.
On the hill for the Mavericks, junior right-handed pitcher Collin Denk pitched five complete innings and surrendered five hits while shutting out the Marauders. Denk walked two and struck out six during his non-decisive outing. Coming down with the win in extra innings was right-handed pitcher Kyle Nordby after he posted scoreless ninth and tenth innings in relief for MSU. Nordby, now 1-0 on the season, held UMary to no hits and no runs while walking one and striking out three.
UMary came out on top in hits again, 10-8, in game two. However, MSU finished with the game's only error.
Up next, Minnesota State returns home for a midweek doubleheader against St. Cloud State. The two-game series begins Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at Bowyer Field.
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