Baseball sweeps SMSU in four games
David Bassey
Staff Writer
This past weekend, the Minnesota State University, Mankato baseball team went on the road to Omaha, NE, where they met up with the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs.
The team ended up on the winning side of the ball, sweeping the team in a four-game series. This matchup improved the Mavericks to 9-4 overall on the season, and 4-0 in NSIC rankings.
The games took place on Saturday and Sunday, with starting pitchers senior right-hander Dalton Roach and senior left-handed pitcher Aaron Rozek cutting down the Mustangs to two baserunners. Roach led the team with eight strike-outs and one walk.
Later-on in the seventh inning, junior right-hander Bobby Gauvreau secured a win for the Mavericks with a 1-2-3 seventh inning pitch.
On offense, the Mavericks scored five runs in the fourth inning, two in the sixth and one in the seventh inning. The team won the game 8-0, with a total of 13 hits for the mavericks, attributed from redshirt freshman Carter Elliott, senior catcher Noah Bluth, sophomore infielder Tommy McDonald, senior shortstop
Luke Waldek and senior center fielder Josh Wenzel.
In game two, the Mavericks showed true poise with senior LHP Rozek limiting the Mustangs to seven hits, striking out 14 of the batters at the plate. The game ended with the Mavericks scoring only one run. The final score of the game was 1-0.
This run was scored in the third inning. As sophomore third baseman Tory Miller drew one walk out, he then proceeded to show second base.
Freshman outfielder Cam Kline recorded his first collegiate hit for the Mavericks during this game.
Due to the weather conditions, the third game of the series took place at Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska. This game began with the Mavericks conceding a hit in the top of the 2nd inning by the Mustangs.
The Mavericks then came back in the bottom of the 6th inning, with sophomore Teddy Petersen scoring. In the same inning, senior Wenzel stole the second putting the Mavs ahead.
The series ended with another comeback for the Mavericks, with a walk off by junior right fielder Tyler Berg. The Mavericks scored three runs in the ninth inning after trailing 5-3. Such performance by the Mavericks shows that they are an elite team with very good pitching and defense, remarked Coach Magers.
As one of the top performing teams in the conference, the Mavs are aware there is a target on their backs.
Nonetheless, Coach Magers is focused on helping his boys get better everyday fixing the kinks. Despite coming into this series with injuries, Coach Magers was excited for the other group of players to get their chance. “We have guys waiting for their opportunity, we try to prepare them for their chance.” Coach Magers said.
Depending on the weather, the Mavericks are set to play Minot State this weekend, in a four-game NSIC series on Saturday and Sunday at the MSU baseball complex, Bowyer field.