MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS

Mavericks Stay Alive at 2009 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Baseball Tourney
Minnesota State Downs Southwest Minnesota State 6-5 Saturday Afternoon in St. Cloud; Upper Iowa Up Next in Saturday Night Tilt

St. Cloud, Minn. — Minnesota State downed Southwest Minnesota State 6-5 in an elimination game at the 2009 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference baseball tournament being held at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud Saturday.

MSU, which trailed 4-0 after the first inning, got three runs in the third when senior second baseman Jay Bresnahan drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and freshman designated hitter Matt Kuchenbecker doubled in a pair of runs. Senior third baseman Geno Glynn belted his ninth home run of the year in the top of the fifth to tie the game. After the Mustangs got a run back in the bottom of the fifth to regain the lead, the Mavericks scored twice in the seventh inning when, with two out, Glynn singled and Kuchenbecker was hit by a pitch. Sophomore Aaron Berner then singled to score Glynn and Kuchenbecker came around to score on a fielding error by the rightfielder and the Mavericks owned their first lead of the game, 6-5.

Sophomore lefty Trent Vedders, who came on in relief of starter Chris Odegaard, threw two innings of scoreless relief to get the win and now stands 4-0 for 2009. Senior Nate Kafka tossed a scoreless ninth inning in getting his sixth save of the year.

The Mavericks, who have won eight of their last ten games, outhit the Mustangs 9-8 in this afternoon’s win. Senior first baseman Travis Taran and Glynn were both two-for-four.

The Mavericks, who are now 35-15 on the year, advance to play Upper Iowa Saturday night in an elimination game scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Southwest Minnesota State, which could receive a bid to play in next weekend’s NCAA regional tournament, stands 27-13 with this afternoon’s loss.


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