Box Score Sioux Falls, S.D. ---  Senior lefthanded pitcher Dylan Gotto worked 6.2 innings of relief, allowing four runs on nine hits while striking out four while centerfielder Ryan Wickman and third baseman Mikey Gottschalk each collected two hits as the Minnesota State baseball team opened the 2023 NCAA Central Regional Finals with a dramatic 5-4 victory over Augustana.  The win was the 12^th of the season for Gotto, a new single-season record.
 
With the win the Mavericks are one win away from their ninth trip to the NCAA Division II World Series in program history and their first since 2014.   Minnesota State (43-16) plays for that berth tomorrow at 1 p.m., in game two of the best-of-three series.
 
The Vikings scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth with one out prompting the Mavericks to bring in sophomore righthander Spencer Wright to close the door.  The Vikings would load the bases with two outs as third baseman Ragan Pinnow was hit by a pitch but assessed strike three when the umpire ruled he leaned into the pitch.  After video review confirmed the call, the Mavericks celebrated and walked off the field as victors. 
 
The Mavericks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first as rightfielder Jackson Hauge coaxed a two-out walk before moving to second on a single to left off the bat of Wickman.
 
Hauge then came around to score Gottschalk singled to right, moving Wickman to third. Wickman then scored when designated hitter Adam Weed singled to center, giving the Mavericks an early 2-0 advantage.
 
The Vikings threatened in the bottom of the second with a pair of walks wrapped around a one-out double to load the bases.  Maverick reliever Dylan Gotto picked up a strikeout to work out of the jam and keep the score at 2-0.
 
Gotto appeared in relief of starter Nathan Culley who left with an undisclosed injury.  Culley worked 1.2 innings and struck out three while allowing one hit and did not factor in the decision.
 
Minnesota State added a run in the top of the fourth as the catcher Nick Baker singled through the left side before moving to second when first baseman Adam Schneider beat out a single to second.  Both runners moved up 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of leftfielder Hunter Ranweiler before Baker scored on a groundball to short off the bat of second baseman Matt Fleischhacker.
 
The Mavericks threatened in the top of the fifth as Wickman drew a one-out walk and Gottschalk singled to right however Augustana starter Caleb Saari worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a flyout.
 
Minnesota State added two runs in the top of the eighth when Weed led off the inning with a walk and was followed up with a single off the bat of Ranweiler.  A balk moved both up a base before they both scored when Fleischhacker singled to center for his second and third RBI of the game to wrap up the Maverick scoring.