Game 1 - Minnesota State 6 Wayne State 3
Game 2 - Minnesota State 3 Wayne State 0
Minnesota State used stellar, complete-game pitching performances from Blake Schwartz and Patrick Lenton to shut out Wayne State in a Northern Sun Conference baseball doubleheader Monday afternoon in Mankato, Minnesota as the Mavericks held WSC to just six hits in two games, posting 6-3 and 3-0 wins over the Wildcats. WSC is now 21-20 overall and 16-9 in the NSIC while Minnesota State improved to 31-11 and 20-6 in league play with the wins.
In the first game, Minnesota State starter Blake Schwartz limited the Wildcats to just four hits while pitching all nine innings as the Mavericks topped Wayne State 6-3. Schwartz struck out eight WSC batters and walked five while allowing two earned runs improving to 9-1 on the season.
Wayne State actually held a 3-1 lead over the Mavericks entering the bottom of the fourth inning, but Minnesota State scored two runs to tie the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth. The Mavericks added another run in the fifth and two in the sixth to make the final score 6-3.
Mike Bisenius belted a solo homer for Wayne State while Joe Wendte doubled and scored two runs to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. Justin Beranek and Brandon Polk each singled to round out Wayne State's four hits in the game. Junior second baseman Nick Bidroski was 0 for 3 in the game, ending his season-high 19 game hitting streak.
John Snyder (5-5) was tagged with the pitching loss, allowing six runs (four earned) over 5 1/3 innings on nine hits with four strikeouts and one walk. Reliever Michael Frericks worked the final 2 2/3 innings, giving up three hits and no runs with one walk and no strikeouts.
The second game saw Minnesota State's Patrick Lenton throw a two-hit shutout as the Mavericks blanked the Wildcats 3-0. WSC had two scoring chances against Lenton but both times the Maverick right hander stopped the Wildcats from scoring. In the first inning, Joe Wendte led off the game with a walk, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Justin Beranek and stole third base. Nick Bidroski was then hit by a pitch to put runners at first and third with just one out, but Lenton got Jarett Jackson to hit into a double play to end the first scoring threat.
Minnesota State put together three of their five hits off Wildcat starter Austen Wisroth in the second inning to take 2-0 lead. WSC threatened to score again in the fourth off Lenton, but again the Mavericks kept the Wildcats from scoring. Jackson doubled with two outs in the fourth followed by a walk to Mike Bisenius that put runners on first and second with two outs, but John Plasha flied out to right field to end the scoring threat. Minnesota State added an insurance run in the fifth inning to make the final score 3-0.
WSC had just two hits in the game, Jackson's double in the fourth inning and a fifth inning single by Jake Ritzdorf. Senior outfielder Joe Wendte was 0 for 2 in the game with a walk, ending a 14-game hitting streak.
Sophomore starter Austen Wisroth (4-3) suffered the pitching loss despite pitching a strong game. He allowed just three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks while working all six innings.
Wayne State will be on the road again Wednesday afternoon as the Wildcats face #29 St. Cloud State for a 12:00 p.m. Northern Sun Conference doubleheader in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
