CROOKSTON, Minn. – The No. 8 Minnesota State Mavericks (33-4, 25-3 NSIC) opened their weekend series, taking down Minnesota Crookston (18-20, 15-13 NSIC) with a commanding 23-3 win in seven innings on Friday afternoon.

Minnesota State wasted no time getting on the board, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning thanks to a pair of RBI doubles from Aidan Byrne and Ike Mezzenga. The Mavericks' offense exploded in the second, plating seven runs on five hits while taking advantage of two Golden Eagle errors. A highlight of the inning came when Louis Magers ripped a two-RBI double down the right-field line to stretch the lead.

The Golden Eagles responded with a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI single, then added two more in the third with a two-run single up the middle.

Minnesota State posted another offensive outburst in the fifth inning, scoring eight runs that featured back-to-back home runs from Magers and Brandon Vlcko. The scoring continued into the sixth and seventh innings, capped off by a pair of solo home runs from Lincoln Berry.

On the mound, Sam George earned the win, improving to 5-0 on the season.

The Mavericks and Golden Eagles will conclude their series with a doubleheader on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for noon.