MANKATO, Minn. – The Mavericks (21-7, 14-2 NSIC) put together a commanding performance at Bowyer Field on Monday, sweeping Bemidji State (6-23, 3-15 NSIC) with decisive 14–2 and 16–0 victories ending both games in seven innings.
Game 1 – Minnesota State 14, Bemidji State 2
The Mavericks broke things open in the fifth inning when CJ Trask crushed a grand slam, capitalizing on a bases-loaded opportunity to put the game out of reach.
Minnesota State set the tone early. In the first inning, Jake Berkland drew a walk and Trask followed with a single before a fielder's choice and an error brought in two runs. The Mavericks added on in the second as Logan Miller reached base and Berkland walked again, setting up a sacrifice fly from Louis Magers and an aggressive steal of home by Berkland.
The offense kept rolling, highlighted by Cole Yearsley's triple in the third, as MSU consistently took advantage of scoring opportunities with timely hitting and aggressive base running.
On the mound, Brody Schulte and Lucas Tolle were highly efficient, combining for two hitless, scoreless innings while striking out three.
Trask led the way offensively, scoring twice and driving in four runs with his grand slam. Berkland scored three times and reached base four times via walks, while Miller added three runs and two RBIs. Yearsley contributed three hits, including a triple, along with two runs and two RBIs.
Game 2 – Minnesota State 16, Bemidji State 0
Minnesota State wasted no time jumping ahead in game two. Trask doubled to drive in Berkland in the first inning, and Eric Nuno followed with a two-RBI double to extend the early lead.
Trask stayed hot in the second, launching a solo home run, while the Mavericks continued to apply pressure with aggressive base running and clutch hitting. Ethan Bowers delivered a key two-RBI double in the fifth, and MSU added more insurance in the sixth with RBI singles from Nuno and Bowers.
Defensively, the Mavericks were sharp, cutting down a baserunner early and never allowing Bemidji State to build momentum.
Gannon Reidinger led the pitching staff with four shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out four. Benjamin Berkhof, Chas Melvin, and Nick Johnson combined to complete the shutout, not allowing a hit over the final three innings.
Trask once again powered the offense, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored and four RBIs, including a home run and two doubles. Nuno added four hits and four RBIs, while Magers contributed two hits, two runs, and an RBI.
"I thought we had a really good pitching performance today." Said head coach Matt Magers. "A key to our success is when we are pitching well and scoring runs in different ways. Defensively we are catching and throwing the ball at a high level."
The Mavericks return to Bowyer Field on Wednesday to host Wayne State for a doubleheader, with first pitch set for 1:30 p.m.
