DAVENPORT, Fla. --- Northwood University (2-7) limited Minnesota State (5-8) to just two runs en route to a 5-2 victory against the Mavericks Monday morning in Davenport, Fla.

After junior Spencer Wright threw three innings of no-run ball, the Timberwolves finally solved MSU's RHP notching the first three runs of the game in the top of the fourth.

The Mavericks responded in the bottom half of the fourth with a pair of runs courtesy of junior Nick Baker. Sophomore Louis Magers got the inning started by working a two-out walk and advanced to third on a junior Zach Stroh double. Stroh would connect for a two-out RBI single to center field driving in both Magers and Baker.

Northwood would collect two additional runs in their half of the sixth which prompted head coach Matt Magers to utilize the bullpen. Junior Mitch Gutknecht would extinguish the Timberwolves' offense allowing no runs on four hits in four innings of work while collecting three strikeouts.  

NU would hang onto its 5-2 lead handing the Mavericks their fourth loss of the 2024 RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.

"A couple big swings by Northwood was the difference today. Their pitching did a good job keeping our hitters off balance," stated head coach Magers. "Gutknecht kept us in the game with his stellar job pitching in relief." 

The Mavericks are back in action tomorrow to rematch Northwood at 8:15 a.m. CST in the final game of the Invitational.