MANKATO, Minn. -- Minnesota State managed to squeak by the Sioux in the second game of a doubleheader by the score of 5-4. In the first game of the doubleheader, the Mavericks defeated UND 11-2. UND falls to 7-11 on the year and 1-5 in the NCC. Minnesota State improves to 26-4 and 7-0 in the NCC.
The Sioux will return to non-conference action on Monday against Bemidji State in Bemidji, Minn. at the BSU Baseball Field. North Dakota and Bemidji State will play a doubleheader with the games taking place at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Game 1 - #16 Minnesota State - 11 North Dakota - 2
The Fighting Sioux committed five errors en route to the 11-2 defeat. In the second inning, Minnesota State capitalized on three UND errors by scoring six runs and taking the early lead.
UND would score its two runs in the sixth inning on an RBI triple from Scott Schmidt and an RBI single from Nate Meissner. Senior Tyler Frenzel led off the inning with a single to right field and Scott Schmidt hit a line-drive to left field that got by the Minnesota State leftfielder. Schmidt would get a triple out of it and Frenzel would come in to score. Nate Meissner then hit a single to score Schmidt from from third.
Sophomore pitcher Michael Lueck went five innings allowing five hits and striking out three while walking three. Lueck is credited with the loss and falls to 1-4 on the season.
Game 2 - #16 Minnesota State - 5 North Dakota - 4
North Dakota go an outstanding performance from senior pitcher Lucas Sandman. Sandman went 6 2/3 innings, allowing nine hits and striking out six and walking two. Sandman is hit with the loss and falls to 1-1 on the year. Sandman hadn't started a game in over a month.
Minnesota State scored two runs in the first and fourth innings to take a 4-0 lead. North Dakota answered back in the bottom of the fourth inning with three runs.
Nate Meissner got the inning started by beaned. Andrew Gudmunson singled up the middle to advance Meissner to second. Chris Gulsvig followed up Gudmunson's single with another base hit to left, that would score Meissner from second. Gulsvig and Gudmunson would advance to second and third, respectively, on a passed ball by the Minnesota State catcher. On the next pitch, Minnesota State pitcher, Danny Klous, would throw a wild pitch to score Gudmunson from third and allow Gulsvig to advance to third. Mike Lundeen would then single off of Klous to score Gulsvig from third. UND would trail 4-3.
Minnesota State scored an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning to take the 5-3 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, North Dakota made things interesting with back-to-back singles from Bo Stanley and Tyler Merkel. Scott Schmidt hit a chopper back at the Minnesota State pitcher who wheeled and threw to second to start the double play, but the MSU shortstop threw the ball past first base which allowed Stanley to score on the error. Nate Meissner then flew out to left field to end the threat and the game.
North Dakota slugged out eight hits and scored four runs, but left five runners on base in the loss.
