Box Score MANKATO, Minn – The Minnesota State Mavericks (3-0, 3-0 NSIC) beat the Northern State Wolves (0-3, 0-3 NSIC) in game three of a four game series Tuesday afternoon at ISG Field.

The Mavericks eliminated a first inning threat with a 5-4-3 double play. Then, in the bottom half, Ike Mezzenga scorched a pitch over the fence in right center to give the Mavericks an early 3-0 advantage. It was his second home run in a Maverick uniform.

Northern State threatened again in the top of the second with a pair of walks that put runners on first and second, but Ben Palmer made a nice play with his glove and his arm to throw out the runner to retire the side.

Palmer smacked a single to left center and Louis Magers walked to put runners on with no outs in the bottom of the third. Matt Fleischhacker slapped a ball through the right side to score Palmer from second, which forced an NSU pitching change. MSU led 4-0 after three innings of baseball.

Magers struck out two in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the inning, the Mavericks drew two walks and Aidan Byrne was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out, but the Wolves turned two to send the game to the fifth.

Minnesota State turned a 5-4-3 double play to kick off the fifth, then Magers struck out his fifth batter to retire the side.

Mezzenga singled to right field to score one with the bases loaded. Fleischhacker put another run on the board with a single back up the middle to put Minnesota State up 6-0 through six innings. 

The Wolves threatened in the top of the seventh by quickly putting runners on second and third after an infield single and a double down the left field line. A hit by pitch loaded the bases and an RBI single got Northern State on the board. After a walk scored another run, a sacrifice fly scored NSU's third run of the inning.

Following a pitching change for MSU, Northern State added another with an RBI single slapped to left. A pitch clock violation scored the fifth run of the inning for NSU, making it a 6-5 game after six and a half. 

Mezzenga hit his second homer of the game over the left field fence in the bottom of the eighth, his third in two days. Fleischhacker singled up the middle for his third hit of the evening. After advancing to second, Jake Berkland hit him home with an RBI triple to right center that rolled to the way to the fence to put Minnesota State up 8-5 after eight.

Spencer Wright came in for the save and struck out two batters before the final NSU batter flew out to left field. 

The Mavericks face the Wolves for the final game of the series tomorrow at noon back at the ISG Field in Mankato, Minnesota.