Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

OMAHA, Neb. – Minnesota State, the preseason Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference favorite, used a pair of strong pitching performances to earn a doubleheader sweep over Southwest Minnesota State at Westside High School on Saturday night. It was the NSIC opening games for both teams.
 
MSU won the opener 8-0, before holding on for a 1-0 victory in game two.
 
The two games today and two on Sunday were originally scheduled to be played in Marshall and Mankato respectively, but were moved to Nebraska due to poor field conditions. The two teams conclude the series tomorrow with a 12 p.m. doubleheader.
 
SMSU, which has scored just one run in its last three games, drops to 5-7 overall, 0-2 NSIC. MSU improves to 7-4 overall, 2-0 NSIC.
 
In the nightcap, MSU's Aaron Rozek, this week' NSIC Pitcher of the Week, tossed seven shutout innings with 14 strikeouts and no walks, while scattering seven hits to earn the victory. Carlo Graffeo pitched the final two innings to earn the save, giving up one hit and one walk with three strikeouts.
 
SMSU freshman John Bezdicek (1-2), coming off a three-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts in his last start, was the tough-luck loser on Saturday night, recording 11 strikeouts, while allowing one run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings. Alex Jorgensen was outstanding with 3 2/3 innings of shutout relief with six strikeouts.
 
The Mavericks scored the game's lone run in the top of the third using a one-out walk, stolen base and single to plate the game-winning run.
 
SMSU put together a rally in the eighth as Ben Heichel doubled to lead off the frame, but a strikeout and a pair of ground outs closed the threat. Spencer Rudnik worked a one-out walk in the ninth, but Graffeo sealed the win with a fly out and strikeout.
 
SMSU, which out-hit MSU 8-5 in game two, was led by Heichel's 3 for 4 performance, while Sellner was 2 for 4.
 
In the opener, MSU All-American starting pitcher Dalton Roach, the school's all-time recorder holder for strikeouts, improved to 3-0 with six shutout innings, allowing just one hit with eight strikeouts and one walk. Roach and Bobby Gauvreau combined to retire the final 14 batters of the game.   
 
Connor Johnson's single in the second inning was the lone hit for the Mustangs. SMSU's only scoring threat came in the third inning as Derek Smith led off reaching via an error, before moving to third base on a wild pitch and ground out. Roach closed the threat with a strikeout to keep the game scoreless.
 
MSU broke open a scoreless game in the fourth inning pushing across five runs on five hits.  
 
Justin Clark (1-1) took the loss for SMSU with five-plus innings of work, allowing six runs on nine hits with five strikeouts and four walks.