Minneapolis, Minn. --- Sophomore righty Blake Schwartz tossed a one-hitter and Minnesota State opened a four-game non-conference series with Bemidji State by downing the Beavers, 6-0, at the Metrodome.
The Mavericks then proceeded to earn the sweep over the Beavers with a 3-1 decision in the second game.
In today's first game, Dan Bennett was the only BSU batter to reach base off of Schwartz, doing so with a two-out single in the third inning and a one-out, full-count hit by pitch in the sixth.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks scored single runs in the second and third innings before opening the game with a three-run fifth inning. Kosuke Hattori and Ben Kincaid began the inning with back-to-back doubles to chase Beaver starting pitcher Doug Peterson from the game. Bryan Jamieson walked Danny Miller, who subsequently stole second base, and Aaron Berner drove home two runs with a single.
Schwartz (2-0) needed just 73 pitches to get through his seven innings of work, in which he struck out three batters.
Kincaid and Josh Simon each had three hits, including a double, to pace the Mavericks' 12-hit attack.
A pair of unearned runs in the third inning spelled the difference in the second game as Minnesota State jumped out to a three-run lead and held on for the 3-1 win.
The Mavericks manufactured a run in the second inning as Aaron Berner singled to lead off the inning, stole second base, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Steven Helget's single off the glove of Beaver third baseman Colton Smith.
In the third, Zach Rowles reached when his ball got through the legs of BSU shortstop Dan Bauer and he hustled into second base when the relay throw to the infield was slow in coming. Berner walked and, once again, stole second base two outs later before Matt Kuchenbecker singled to right field.
Meanwhile, Ben Kincaid was in the process of scattering four hits over six innings, allowing just an unearned run in the sixth when Joe Chism, who had led off the frame with a double, scored from third on Kincaid's errant pickoff throw. He also struck out eight batters without allowing a walk before giving way to Luke Putz, who gave up a leadoff double to Bauer in the seventh and a one-out walk to Jeff Schaper before getting the final two outs for his third save of the season.
Minnesota State is now 6-1 with the two wins, while BSU falls to 7-7.
The two teams meet in another non-conference doubleheader at the Metrodome, Wednesay, beginning at 11 a.m.
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