MANKATO, Minn. – Mark Ossanna drove in four runs and Javier Gutierrez hit a home run and plated two more, but the Minot State baseball team couldn't stop a late rally by host Minnesota State, Mankato, falling 14-12 in the opener of an NSIC doubleheader on Saturday.

The Mavericks (18-11, 14-5) took the nightcap 16-5 in 7 innings for the sweep of the twinbill.

Minot State (9-20, 6-13) now returns home to host Minnesota Crookston in a doubleheader for the Beavers home debut at Corbett Field on Wednesday starting at 1:30 p.m.
 
GAME 1 | Minnesota State 14, Minot State 12
MANKATO, Minn. -- The Minot State Beavers took a 12-11 lead into the sixth inning but could not hang on and fell 14-12 to the Minnesota State Mavericks on Saturday.
 
Junior Gage Eastlick (1-2) came out of the bullpen for Minot State and took the loss.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers were trailing 2-0 in the second inning when they first put runs on the board. Minot State's offense started clicking and put up six runs, including a three-run double off the bat of senior Mark Ossanna.
 
The Mavericks failed to push any runs across before the Beavers offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Minot State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of junior Seugjun Song, which brought the Beavers lead to 7-2.
 
Minnesota State narrowed Minot State's lead to 7-5 before the Beavers stretched the advantage to 12-5 in the fourth inning. The Beavers bats heated up in the inning, scoring five runs, including a two-run home run off the bat of junior Javier Gutierrez. The Beavers were unable to hold the lead, as Minnesota State scored nine times over the remaining three innings to grab the 14-12 win.
 
GAME NOTES
» Junior Brent Riddle led the Beavers, compiling three base knocks in the ballgame.
» Minot State's power output was led by Riddle, who compiled two extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Ossanna drove in four runs for the Beavers.
» Every Beavers starter reached base safely in the loss.
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the second, when it pushed six runs across.
» Minot State went 5-for-15 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers faced 40 Minnesota State hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and six fly balls while striking out six.
» Ossanna led the Beavers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and four RBI.
» Minnesota State was led offensively by sophomore Louis Magers, who went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and four RBI.
» Junior Jake Matthaidess led the Mavericks pitching staff, throwing three shutout innings.
 
GAME 2 | Minnesota State 16, Minot State 5, 7 innings
MANKATO, Minn. -- The Minot State Beavers got a boost from junior Brent Riddle, who totaled three hits in a 16-5 loss to the Minnesota State Mavericks on Saturday.
 
Junior Gage Yost (1-5) started and took the loss on the mound for Minot State.
 
In addition to his three hits, Riddle had a double and an RBI to lead the Beavers. Senior Mark Ossanna furnished a standout performance as well, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Sophomore Colton Bagshaw also chipped in for Minot State, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding an RBI.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers got the scoring started early, putting runs on the board in the top of the first inning. Minot State plated two runs off of Minnesota State pitching, one of which was driven in on a run-scoring double off the bat of Ossanna.
 
The Beavers lost the lead they built in the first but got back on the board in the sixth trailing 15-2. Riddle came across to score the lone run of the inning for Minot State, which tightened the Mavericks lead to 15-3.
 
Minnesota State expanded their lead to 16-3 before the Minot State offense got going, reducing that lead to 16-5 in the seventh. The Beavers scored twice, with one run coming across on Riddle's single. The ballgame ended with that seventh-inning rally falling short.
 
GAME NOTES
» Riddle led the Beavers, picking up three base hits in the ballgame.
» Minot State went 5-for-14 (.357) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers faced 42 Minnesota State hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out six.
» Riddle led the Beavers at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
» Minnesota State was led offensively by junior Nick Baker, who went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, a home run and two RBI.
» Freshman Sam George led the Mavericks pitching staff, throwing two innings of one-run ball.
 
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