MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State held on to win once again in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament as the fifth-ranked and top-seeded Mavericks survived a 7-5 contest against the third-seeded Wayne State Wildcats Thursday afternoon at Franklin Rogers Park.
 
Minnesota State was first to find the scoreboard as junior Mike Eckhart and senior Jeremy Sudbeck successfully pulled off a double steal sending Sudbeck to second while Eckhart stole home putting the first run on the board.
 
After a scoreless third inning, Wayne State evened the score at one as Mike Bisenius scored on a wild pitch by Mavericks starting pitcher, sophomore Tyler Ockuly.
 
The Mavericks broke the 1-1 tie in the top of the sixth as freshman Nolan Johnson came up with runners on the corners and proceeded to drive in Eckhart with an RBI single.
 
MSU woke up the bats in its half of the seventh inning as senior Pat Dockendorf got the four-run inning started with an RBI single which brought in junior Lucas Skjefte giving the Mavericks a 3-1 lead.
 
After a Wayne State error with two outs which would have ended the inning, Eckhart’s triple brought in two runs before Sudbeck added an RBI single extending the Mavericks lead to 6-1.
 
The Wildcats would threaten in the bottom half of the seventh as they loaded the bases as Ockuly allowed a walk and two of his five hits he gave up in the afternoon.  However, MSU would end the inning as Ockuly got Brett Keim to ground into an inning-ending double play as the Mavericks preserved their 6-1 lead.
 
Minnesota State would add a single run in the top of the eighth before the Wildcats would threaten again in their half of the inning.  After adding two runs which cut the score to 7-3, WSC loaded the bases once again but were unable to plate any more runs as relief pitcher junior Mahlon Zimmermann was able to get Michael Herman to ground an inning-ending fielder’s choice.
 
Threatening with the bases loaded became a reoccurring theme as the Wildcats did it once again in the bottom of the ninth.  MSU would allow two more runs in the final inning but was able to hold on for the 7-5 victory as Zimmermann got C.J. Nolen to strike out to end the game.
 
Ockuly was credited with the win after allowing two earned runs and striking out nine batters as the win marked his fifth of the season.  Earning his first save of the season was Zimmermann who allowed two earned runs while striking out one batter in 1.1 innings of work.
 
The Mavericks were led at the plate by Sudbeck who finished 4-for-5 with an RBI while Eckhart finished 3-for-5 and a home run-short of the cycle while also adding two RBI.
 
With the win, the Mavericks improve to 41-9 overall and will play the winner of fourth-seeded Winona State and second-seeded St. Cloud State tomorrow as the two teams play the nightcap of day two at 7 p.m.  First pitch of Friday’s action is slated for noon at Franklin Rogers Park.