MANKATO, Minn. – Michael Borst became the lone Minot State baseball player in school history to record six hits in a game in the DII era as the senior went a perfect 6-for-6 at the plate with two walks to lead the Beavers to a 10-7 victory in 14 innings over Minnesota State in the second game of a doubleheader on Friday in Mankato, Minn.
Before the extra innings victory, the Beavers fell 5-4 in game one. Minot State is 8-8 on the season and 2-2 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play while Minnesota State is now 12-6 (4-3 NSIC).
Game One: Minnesota State 5, Minot State 4
How It Happened
- The Mavericks opened the day with two runs on a pair of hits in the first inning to take a quick 2-0 lead.
- Minnesota State doubled its lead on two hits and a Minot State error to hold a four-run lead after five innings.
- Mason Gifford reached on a Maverick error and Darrel Doll doubled down the right field line to begin the seventh inning.
- Jackson Pokorney poked an RBI single to center field and Wyatt Schlosser drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit in half, 4-2.
- Borst ripped a two-RBI single through the left side, scoring Trevaun Smith and Pokorney to tie the game at four.
- The Mavericks responded with an RBI double in the bottom half of the inning to post the walk-off victory.
Inside the Box Score
- The Beavers scored four runs on six hits and committed one error.
- Borst register a team-high two hits with a pair of RBIs.
- Smith, Gifford, Doll and Pokorney record one hit apiece.
- Starter Andres Hackman tossed six innings while allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and striking out six batters.
- Reliever Jack Gamba fell to 0-2 in the season after allowing the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
Game Two: Minot State 10, Minnesota State 7 (F/14)
How It Happened
- Minnesota State opened the second game like the first, tallying two runs in the opening inning.
- Borst opened the third inning with a single before scoring on Gifford's sacrifice fly.
- The Beavers tied the game at two in the fifth inning when Borst lifted a solo home run to left center.
- Ryley Humrighouse scored on a wild pitch after hitting an RBI single to hand the Beavers a two-run lead, 4-2.
- Gifford doubled to right center in the seventh before scoring on a wild pitch to make the score, 5-2.
- The Mavericks took the lead back after hanging five runs on four hits and an error in the bottom of the seventh inning.
- Facing a two-run deficit in the final inning, Gifford blasted a two-run home run to right field to tie the game at seven.
- Four scoreless innings followed before Borst launched the go-ahead three-run home run to left center.
Inside the Box Score
- Minot State scored 10 runs on 17 hits and committed an error.
- Borst went a perfect 6-for-6 at the plate with two home runs, four RBIs, four runs and a pair of walks.
- Gifford went 2-of-5 at the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored.
- Jake Collins, Schlosser and Doll notched two hits each.
- Starter Reilly O'Rourke threw 6.1 innings while surrendering six runs (four earned) on eight hits and striking out five batters.
- Aaron Bernal, Aaron Kern and Sam Larson combined to pitch two innings in relief.
- Gamba earned the victory, tossing 4.2 shutout innings in relief and striking out six batters.
- Matt Sartwell recorded the final three outs to earn his first collegiate save.
- The two teams combined to use 36 players in the 14-inning contest.
What's Next
The Beavers and Mavericks conclude the three-game series with the rubber match tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. in Mankato, Minn.