BOX SCORE - GAME 1
BOX SCORE - GAME 2
PHOTO GALLERY
MARSHALL, Minn. – Minnesota State, Mankato pitching limited Southwest Minnesota State to a combined four runs and nine hits to earn a doubleheader sweep in Marshall on Saturday.
MSU won the opener 15-3 and followed with an 8-1 victory in game two to complete a four-game home-and-home series sweep. The Mavericks, ranked No. 22 and No. 30 in two national polls, have won 13 of its last 14 games and improves to 22-6 overall, 11-1 NSIC. The Mustangs drop to 8-10 overall, 4-4 NSIC. It was the first time SMSU has been swept in a four-game conference series since March 25-26, 2006, versus Wayne State.
In game one, Aaron Berner finished 5 for 5 with three home runs and five RBI to lead Minnesota State, Mankato to the 15-3 victory. Danny Miller added two home runs and finished with seven RBI to help lead the Maverick charge.
Maverick starting pitcher Bret Mitchell was solid earning the win pitching 7.1 innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, while striking out six batters.
Jared Pick suffered the loss for SMSU; he pitched 6.2 innings, allowed six runs on nine hits and falls to 2-2 on the season.
SMSU finished with five hits with Brian Ness hitting a solo home run and Adam Thygesen delivering an RBI single. SMSU's other run scored on a sac fly by Tyler Jendro.
MSU jumped on the board first as Berner smacked a solo homer in the second inning.
SMSU tied the game in the third inning as Chris Eicten was hit by a pitch with one out and then stole second. Adam Thygesen then smacked a single up the middle to score Eichten and tie the game at 1-1.
The Mavericks retook the lead in the fourth inning as once again Berner belted a home run over the left field fence to give MSU a 2-1 advantage. MSU then extended the lead to 4-1 in the sixth as Danny Miller lead the inning off with a home run and Patrick Dockendorf added a sac fly.
MSU extended the lead in the seventh taking advantage of three singles, a passed ball and an error to score two more runs and make the score 6-1, the put the game away with six runs in the eighth.
In the nightcap, MSU's Ben Kincaid tossed a complete game five-hitter allowing one unearned run, while striking out six and walking none. Zach Rowles and Mike Eckhart led the MSU offense with two hits apiece.
Cody Curry had two of SMSU's five hits, while Tyler Jendro scored SMSU's lone run with an RBI ground out in the second inning. SMSU scored the game's first run, but MSU rallied off of SMSU starter Alex Alvarez scoring three runs in the third and fourth innings to build a 6-1 advantage.
Alvarez drops to 1-2 on the season giving up eight runs, six earned, on eight hits in 3.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts.
The Mustang were without the play of starting first baseman Andrew Kinney, who has now missed the last three games with an injury.
SMSU will look to rebound on Tuesday, April 6, hosting Bemidji State in a conference twinbill scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
