Multi-hit games lead SCSU past No. 19 Minnesota State 12-8

Friday, April 2

St. Cloud, MN

3:30 p.m.

St. Cloud State

Minnesota State University - Mankato

Caleb Marquez was one of three Huskies with at least three hits in game two of the weekend series

Photo by: Kylie Macziewski

4/2/2021 10:10:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

St. Cloud State Baseball (7-6, 5-3 NSIC) pounded out 12 hits, including a four-hit day by Max Gamm (4-for-5, 3 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 SB) and three-hit performances from Caleb Marquez (3-for-4, BB, R, 2B, 3 RBI) and Jake Shusterich (3-for-4, BB, 4 R, HR, RBI), en route to upsetting No. 19 Minnesota State-Mankato (14-2, 11-1 NSIC) 12-8 in game two of Friday's series-opening doubleheader, earning a day-one split.

"I really like the competitiveness of our team and how we've been grinding out at-bats offensively," said head coach Pat Dolan, "In one aspect it's great to get a sweep against another great team but with the lead late in game one we really had a great opportunity to win both. When you give good teams like this freebies they're going to take advantage of it, which they did."

Trailing 2-0 after the opening half-inning with one gone, Gamm singled through the left side and Paul Steffensen (1-for-5, R, SB) promptly dumped a single into right-center. Mavericks righthander Cam Kline struck out the next batter, but a double steal by the duo on base put two in scoring position for Marquez. SCSU's designated hitter cracked a two-run double, knotting the game at two.

Drew Bulson (1-for-3, BB, R, HR, 2 RBI) led off the home half of the third with a towering home run to left, followed by a Tate Wallat (1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, SF) double. After a quick pair of outs, Gamm belted a two-run shot off the light pole in left field, pushing the lead to 5-2.

The Huskies scored again in the third as Shusterich roped a double to the right-center gap and Marquez poked a single to left, putting both boppers in scoring position. Matt Quade (0-for-2, HBP, RBI, SF, SH) lifted a sac fly to center, plating Shusterich.

Minnesota State struck back with a run in the fourth and fifth, making it a 6-4 ball game. Shusterich led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, Marquez drew a walk and Quade reached on a sacrifice but that saw the MSU pitcher throw errantly to third, leaving everybody safe. A popout preceded a Wallat RBI groundout that scored Shusterich.

Leading 7-4 in the sixth, John Nett (0-for-4, BB, 2 R) led off with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scampered to third on a passed ball. Gamm singled to short, then stole second. Two batters later, Shusterich walked to fill the bases with one out. Marquez hit yet another blistering ball in play, skipping off the Maverick third baseman's glove and allowing Gamm and Nett to cross the plate. Quade was hit by a pitch, then Bulson drew a bases-loaded walk. Wallat capped off the four-run inning with a sacrifice fly to center.

SCSU tacked on their final run in the eighth, as Shusterich welcomed a new Mavericks reliever to the game with a long leadoff solo shot on the first pitch of the inning.

Righthander Tommy Thompson earned his second win of the year in relief, going 3.1 innings with a strikeout and holding MSU to three earned on seven hits and zero walks. Fabian Villegas took a no-decision after grinding through 4.1 innings of four-run ball with five strikeouts, Eli Emerson notched a hold with 0.2 innings of relief and Mack Larson recorded a save by retiring the only two batters he faced with the tying run on deck.

The Huskies snapped Minnesota State's 13-game winnings streak and handed their rivals loss number one of the conference season. SCSU and MSU battle for the series win on Saturday at Joe Faber Field with first pitch set for noon CST.

"I really think the guys are going to come out on top tomorrow as we need to win the series," Dolan said.

The series will be broadcast on the NSIC Network with Live Stats provided by SCSU.