DAVENPORT, Fla. --- Minnesota State bounced back with a win Saturday morning as the Mavericks bested the Wilmington Wildcats 7-2.
With the win, MSU has improved to 11-4 on the season. With the loss, Wilmington drops to 8-5.
Junior
Mack Crowley (3-0) picked up the win as he threw his first career complete game as he allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits while striking out six. John Grybowski (1-1) took the loss as he allowed three runs, on five hits, in 6.0 innings.
The Wildcats took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first as they took advantage of a single, a hit batter and an error to bring around the first run of the game. MSU responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 lead. With one out, sophomore
CJ Trask was hit by a pitch and then advanced to third on a single from senior
Logan Miller. A double from junior
Owen Sikkink drove in Trask before a sacrifice fly from junior
Pambos Nicoloudes allowed Miller to score.
The top of the fourth saw Wilmington tie the game at 2-2. Tyler Pirrung led off the inning with a walk and moved up to third on a sacrifice bunt and a stolen base. Pirrung then score on a sacrifice fly from Garrett Quinn to tie the game at 2-2.
The game remained tied 2-2 into the bottom of the sixth as senior
Ethan Bowers led off the inning with an infield single. Senior
Brandon Vlcko then stepped in and drove in Bowers with an RBI-double down the left field line to put the Maverick back in front 3-2.
The Mavericks added two more runs in the seventh and eighth innings to increase their lead to 7-2. Sophomore
Jake Berkland drove in a pair of runs with a triple and single, while senior
Louis Magers drove in another run with a sacrifice fly. Junior
Braxton Haggith stole home for the final run of the game as well.
While MSU was adding to its lead, Crowley was keeping the Wildcats off the bases. After Wilmington's lead off hitter in the top of the fifth reached base via error, Crowley set down the last 15 Wildcat batters in order, including three strikeouts, to lock down the 7-2 win.
Berkland finished with two hits and two RBI, while Sikkink recorded two hits as well. Haggith scored two runs also.
Minnesota State continues its season on Sunday as it takes on Nova Southeastern in Auburndale, Fla. First pitch is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. (CST).