Auburndale, Fla. --- Minnesota State (9-4) dropped its second game in the 2023 RussMatt invitational against California University of Pennsylvania by a final of 10-8.
Junior
Jackson Hauge managed to spring the Mavericks onto the scoreboard early in the first inning with his fourth triple of the year bringing home junior
Mikey Gottschalk.
The next batter sophomore
Aidan Byrne grounded into a fielder's choice helping home Hauge extending Minnesota State's lead by two.
CALU would go on a five-run tare in the third and fourth innings leading to junior
Nathan Culley's early exit facing an 8-2 deficit.
The Mavericks slowly carved into the Vulcans' lead in the fourth inning with freshman
Louis Magers driving home junior
Zach Stroh on an RBI single to cut CALU's lead to four.
In the Mavericks half of the fifth, junior
Jackson Hauge found his way to the plate after junior
Ryan Wickman and sophomore
Mikey Gottschalk led off the inning with a pair of singles.
Hauge launched one over the right fielder's head for his first homer on the season while boosting his RBI count to 13 on the year cutting the Vulcans' lead to 8-6.
In the bottom of the seventh, sophomore
Aidan Byrne and Junior
Adam Schneider found their way on base through free passes while Junior
Zach Stroh nocked on into left field to load the bases.
The next batter, freshman
Louis Magers worked a bases-loaded walk driving in the Mavericks' seventh tally on the day for his fifth RBI of the season. Junior
Zach Stroh slid home during the next at-bat on a passed ball, tying the game at eight.
CALU knocked home two in the top of the ninth to steal back the lead. The Vulcans' would ride out their 10-8 lead till the final pitch, improving their record to 6-4.
David Lee picked up his first win of the season for CALU, going two and a third surrendering only one hit and no runs while accumulating three strikeouts.
Sophomore
Mitch Gutknecht got tagged with the loss going one inning allowing two walks and an earned run while striking out three.
The Mavericks are back in action tomorrow as they wrap up the 2023 RussMatt invitational against Grand Valley State. The first pitch is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. EST.