MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State gears up for a four-game weekend series against the Jamestown Jimmies beginning Monday, Feb. 23 at 1:00 p.m. The teams will play a doubleheader on Monday before wrapping up a doubleheader on Tuesday at the Floyd Fitzgerald Stadium in Rapid City, S.D.

Last Time on the Diamond

The Mavericks are coming off a strong showing at the MSSU Lion Classic Invite, winning three of four games.

On Friday, senior Sam George (1-0) earned the win after allowing just one run on four hits in six innings, striking out five. Senior Brady Nelson picked up his first save of the season, tossing three innings while allowing two hits and striking out six.

Minnesota State jumped out early, scoring two runs in the first inning. Ethan Bowers drew a walk and later scored on an RBI triple by Louis Magers. Marcus Beatty followed with a sacrifice fly to give MSU a 2-0 lead.

George retired the first 10 batters he faced and held the Greyhounds in check. UIndy loaded the bases in the fifth and pushed across one run, but a lineout double play and a strikeout limited the damage. Nelson closed the door to secure the 2-1 victory.

On Saturday, the Mavericks fell in extra innings to McKendree, 5-4 in 11 innings.

Louis Magers (0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing one unearned run in relief. Daniel Zang was dominant in relief for MSU, striking out 12 over six innings while allowing just one hit.

Minnesota State built a 3-0 lead through three innings, highlighted by a two-RBI single from freshman Sam Haugen and capitalizing on a McKendree error. The Bearcats responded, eventually tying the game and taking a 4-3 lead. MSU forced extras in the ninth when Cole Yearsley scored on wild pitches. In the 11th, a leadoff double and a defensive miscue allowed McKendree to walk it off.

On Sunday, the Mavericks bounced back with a 12-6 win over Indianapolis behind a 12-hit performance.

Jake Berkland led the offensive explosion, finishing with five hits — including two doubles, a triple, and a home run — while driving in five runs. MSU broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning and added insurance late. Mack Crowley earned the win, allowing three earned runs over five innings with six strikeouts.
Minnesota State closed the weekend Monday with a 9-8 win over Missouri Southern State at Warren Turner Field.

The Mavericks launched four home runs in the contest. Berkland hit two, while Magers and Cole Yearsley each added one. Yearsley's solo home run in the eighth proved to be the difference.

Braden Grimm started and pitched 5.1 innings, and Brady Nelson earned the win in relief, throwing 3.2 innings to secure the victory.

Facing the Jimmies

Jamestown opened its season on the road against the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, dropping all four games by scores of 11-4, 4-3, 12-11, and 16-7.

Junior Mathieu Morin leads the Jimmies offensively with a .667 batting average, two RBIs, and one home run. On the mound, sophomore Carter Riedmann leads Jamestown with a 4.15 ERA after pitching 4.1 innings last weekend.

This weekend marks the first meeting between Minnesota State and Jamestown.