MANKATO, Minn.--- The Minnesota State baseball team defeated the University of Sioux Falls in their second game of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Baseball Tournament.

After the win, the Mavericks record moves to 34-15 on the year.

The Mavericks produced its first in the top of the first inning with senior Kyle Toth reaching on a Cougar error and advancing on a Josh Wenzel sacrifice bunt.  Toth made his way around third and was plated on senior Taylor Branstad's single to make it 1-0.

In the top of the second, the Mavericks extended their lead to 6-0.  Wenzel got things going with a bases-loaded triple, bringing in Toth, junior Hunter Harnisch, and freshman Jordan Hart.  Junior Eric Peterson followed with a one-out double scoring Wenzel from third, and later scored from third on a play when Branstad stole second base for the Maverick's fifth run of the inning.

The Cougars chipped away with runs in the bottom of the fifth, sixth, and eighth innings, including two in the bottom half of the sixth, cutting Minnesota State's lead to 6-4.

When it was all said and done, the Mavericks were out hit by the Cougars by a clip of 9-8 while USF committed one error to MSU's zero.

Starting pitcher sophomore Dalton Roach went 5.1 innings giving up three earned runs on seven Cougar hits while striking out nine. Senior closer, Dakota Belter picked up his team-leading seventh save of the year in shutting down USF in the bottom of the ninth.

Minnesota State was led by Peterson and Branstad with both producing 2-4 performances at the plate while Branstad claimed and RBI and Peterson scored a run and batted one in.  Wenzel went 1-3 in the contest, scoring one and batting in three.

The Mavericks will play tomorrow, Friday, May 13, against the loser of St. Cloud State and Augustana at 1:00 p.m. at Joe Faber Field.