KENOSHA, Wis – The Minnesota State Mavericks (14-1) took down University of Wisconsin-Parkside (14-4) in a doubleheader Monday afternoon at Historic Simmons Field.  

Game 1 – MSU 9 UWP 5 (7 innings) 

After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, Minnesota State responded in the second when Brady Jurgella launched a solo home run to left field, tying the game at 1-1. Both teams remained locked in a defensive battle until the fifth inning, when the Mavericks broke the game open with a four-run frame. A bunt single from Jurgella and back-to-back hits from Zach Stroh and Jake Berkland set the stage for Ike Mezzenga, who roped a two-run double down the first-base line to give MSU a 4-1 lead. Aidan Byrne followed with an RBI single to extend the advantage to 5-1. 

Parkside fought back in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run, trimming the deficit to 5-2. The Rangers then made things interesting in the sixth, as they blasted a three-run home run to left, cutting the Mavericks' lead to just one run at 6-5. 

Minnesota State quickly responded in the seventh when Berkland led off with a triple and scored on a single from Mezzenga. Moments later, Louis Magers delivered the knockout blow with a two-run homer to right-center, putting the Mavericks ahead 9-5. Reliever Spencer Wright shut the door in the bottom of the seventh, sealing the win. 

The Mavericks' offense was led by Mezzenga, who finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs, while Magers added two RBIs with his late homer. Jurgella also played a key role, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. 

Nathan Culley earned the win, making him 4-0 for the season.  

Game 2 – MSU 19 UWP 7 (9 innings) 

Minnesota State got on the board first in the opening frame when Stroh scored on a double steal after leading off with a single. Parkside responded in the second, scoring twice to take a 2-1 lead.  

The Mavericks answered with three runs in the fifth, tying the game 5-5, thanks to an RBI single by Matthew Fleischhacker and a key hit from Brandon Vlcko. In the sixth, Mezzenga delivered the biggest hit of the game, crushing a three-run home run to put Minnesota State ahead 8-5. 

Parkside kept fighting, cutting the deficit to 8-7 in the bottom of the sixth, but Minnesota State's offense exploded in the eighth. Stroh and Berkland combined for four RBIs in the frame, highlighted by Berkland's two-run homer to left. The Mavericks tacked on five runs in the inning to put the game out of reach. 

"It was a good day getting two wins versus a quality opponent. Offensively i'm impressed how we consistently found various ways to score, while the pitching and defense kept putting the teams in favorable situations." said head coach Matt Magers. 

Mack Crowley secured the win. The Mavericks improved to 14-1 overall. 

Minnesota State returns to action as they host Minnesota Duluth for their home opener this weekend.