ST. PETER, Minn. – The Minnesota State Mavericks (2-0, 2-0 NSIC) took the first two games from Northern State Wolves (0-2, 0-2 NSIC) Monday afternoon at the Gustie Baseball Field in a doubleheader 6-1 and 14-7.
Game 1: MSU 6, NSU 1 (7 innings)
The Mavericks opened the series with a strong performance, securing a 6-1 victory over Northern State.
Nick Baker advanced to third base and
Zach Stroh crossed home plate early in the game to put MSU on the board. In the fifth inning,
Jake Berkland doubled to left field, bringing home both Stroh and
Matthew Fleischhacker for two more runs.
Pitcher
Nathan Culley (1-0) delivered a dominant outing in his return, striking out 11 batters while allowing just one walk through 5.0 innings. Northern State scored a lone run in the seventh, but it wasn't enough to overcome MSU's steady offensive attack.
Ike Mezzenga and Berkland finished with two runs batted in apiece.
Game 2: MSU 14, NSU 7 (9 innings)
Minnesota State showcased its offensive firepower in game two, defeating Northern State 14-7 in a high-scoring contest.
Ben Palmer recorded the Mavericks' first hit of the game in the opening inning. The second inning saw MSU take control as Stroh and Fleischhacker scored on
Brandon Vlcko's single through the left side. Magers added to the lead with a two-RBI single up the middle, scoring Vlcko while
Aidan Byrne and
Logan Miller advanced. Fleischhacker later reached on an error, allowing Byrne to cross the plate and make it 5-0 heading into the third. The Mavericks sent ten hitters to the plate in the second.
Northern State responded in the fourth with three runs, but MSU countered with two more, including an RBI double from Byrne and another RBI from
Ike Mezzenga, extending the lead to 7-3. However, NSU fought back in the fifth, tying the game 7-7 after Drew Benson's home run.
In the bottom of the fifth, MSU reclaimed the lead when Byrne's hit to center field set up
Cole Ranweiler to score on an infield groundout by Palmer, making it 8-7. The Mavericks continued to build their lead in the sixth with a two-run home run from the freshman Berkland, bringing home Mezzenga.
The Mavericks sealed the win with a dominant eighth inning. Mezzenga singled and advanced on a balk, Fleischhacker walked, and Stroh's bunt loaded the bases. Berkland's sacrifice fly brought in a run before Byrne cleared the bases with a double, securing the 14-7 victory.
Mitch Gutknecht (1-0) collected the win after tossing 4.0 innings of relief and allowing zero earned runs while striking out five. Reliever Nik Bantle (0-1) suffered the loss for Northern State.
With the doubleheader sweep, MSU and NSU plays again tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 and 5:30 pm at the ISG Field in Mankato.
