MANKATO, Minn.. --- Minnesota State (4-5, 2-2 NSIC) fell to Embry-Riddle University (8-5) by a final of 16-8 Thursday evening in Davenport, Florida.

After ERU notched its first run of the game in the top of the first, Minnesota State's offense responded when sophomore Matthew Fleischhacker came around to score his ninth run of the season on a junior Zach Stroh sacrifice fly to tie the game at one.

In the bottom of the second, sophomore Tanner Thompson smashed his first collegiate home run to give the Mavericks a 2-1 lead.

The Eagles would go on to score a combined 11 runs in the next four innings forcing the Mavericks to climb a 12-3 mountain by the end of the fifth inning.

The Mavericks would continue to fight as the purple and gold put up a five spot in the bottom of the sixth. Senior Ryan Friedges got Minnesota States rally going after registering his third walk on the season and would later move to third on Fleischhacker double. The next batter, junior Aidan Byrne punched his team-leading 15th hit of the season through the left side scoring Friedges for his 11th RBI on the year.

After Fleischhacker scored his team-leading tenth run of the season on a wild pitch, juniors Stroh and Nick Baker combined for three RBIs in the inning to push the Mavericks within four runs.

Minnesota State's rally would be quashed by four unanswered runs by the Eagles sealing their victory Thursday evening.  

Highlighting the Mavericks pitching were juniors Jake Matthaidess and Derek Lilledahl who combined for two innings of work allowing no runs on one hit while accumulating three strikeouts.

"It was a very competitive game until the fourth inning when we were unable to limit the big inning," stated head coach Matt Magers. "Thompson and Baker had good quality nights at the plate and we need to replicate those performances throughout the lineup."
 
Minnesota State is back in action tomorrow at noon CT to take on Ashland University in its third game of the 2023 RussMatt Invitational in Davenport, Florida.