GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX

MARSHALL, Minn. - Minnesota State, Mankato, ranked No. 1 in the region and No. 6/10 nationally, swept a conference doubleheader from Southwest Minnesota State on Sunday with a pair of strong pitching and defensive performances, winning 4-1 and 7-1. 

The Mavericks are now 33-7 overall, 21-3 NSIC, while the Mustangs drop to 22-19 overall, 12-14 NSIC.  The two teams conclude the series tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader in Mankato starting at 1:30.

MSU has now won 11 straight in the series, with SMSU's last victory coming during the NCAA tournament in 2009. 

In the opener, the game was scoreless game until the fifth inning when MSU's Lucas Skjefte belted a solo home run over the left field fence for the game's first run.

MSU added two more runs in the sixth, before SMSU cut into the deficit in the sixth. With two outs, Jordon Kontz walked and Jon Ellis followed with a single.  Tyler Flattum then laced a single to left field, scoring pinch runner Doug Mead.  Jeff Watson then walked to load the bases, but MSU closer Nick Sutherland struck out Ben Korger to end the threat.

MSU added an insurance run in the seventh to push the lead to 4-1.

Alex Alvarez (3-4) pitched a solid game for SMSU, allowing four runs on seven hits in 6.2 innings, with four strikeouts and one walk.

Chris Eicthen led the SMSU offense with two hits. 

The Mustangs had several chances to take the lead in the game, but the MSU defense, which entered the weekend ranking No. 1 in the country in fielding percentage, came through in a big way.  The Mavericks threw out Korger at the plate following a Brian Ness single in the third and then with two runners on in the fifth, Ness hit a line-drive in the right-center field gap that was tracked down and saved a possible two runs.  MSU did not make an error in either game.

In game two, Harvey Martin, a transfer from Central Michigan University, improved to 9-0 with eight strong innings to lead the Mavericks.  The right-hander allowed one run on five hits with five strikeouts.

MSU snapped a scoreless game in the third, scoring three runs, including one unearned run, take an early lead. 

SMSU jumped on the board in the fourth as Kyle Young walked with two outs and advanced to third on a single by Ellis.  Ellis then stole second base and Young came home on the back-end of the double-steal to cut the margin to 3-1.

Mustangs starting pitcher Jeremy Schmidt then settled in and held the Mavericks scoreless over the next three innings, before MSU put the game away against the SMSU bullpen.

SMSU reliever Brandan Alfson walked three, one intentional, in the seventh inning and all three runners came around to score to give MSU a 6-1 lead.  The Mavericks then added a single run in the eighth to push the margin to 7-1.

Schmidt (1-2) pitched six innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on eight hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

Eichten once again led the Mustang offense with two hits.

Following tomorrow's games, SMSU will immediately travel to Bemidji, Minn., to face Bemidji State on Tuesday afternoon.