MSU stays alive at NSIC baseball tournament

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Minnesota State catcher Nolan Johnson puts the tag on St. Cloud's Brian Hansen in time to get the out at home. The play ended an SCSU third-inning rally but the Huskies went on to win the game 3-2. John Cross
Freshman Connor McCallum rounds third on the way to scoring one of only two runs for Minnesota State in Friday's first game of the NSIC Tournament at Franklin Rogers Park. McCallum came home on a single by Matt Kuchenbecker. John Cross
Minnesota State's Connor McCallum prepares to collide with St. Cloud State catcher Michael Jurgella on a play at home in the third inning of Friday's NSIC Tournament game. McCallum was safe on the play. John Cross

May 11, 2012

MSU stays alive at NSIC baseball tournament

By Jim Rueda Free Press Sports Editor The Mankato Free Press Fri May 11, 2012, 11:16 PM CDT

MANKATO — It was arguably the biggest game of the season for the Minnesota State baseball team, and head coach Matt Magers decided to put the ball in the hand of seldom-used sophomore pitcher Jason Hoppe.

After losing Saturday’s first game of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament 3-2 to St. Cloud State, the Mavericks were on the brink of elimination when they took on Augustana that night. It turns out Hoppe did just fine as MSU delivered a 10-1 win to reach today’s championship round.

“I was nervous,” Hoppe admitted. “But I just got through that first inning and kind of cruised after that.

“I used my changeup as my out pitch. I gave up a couple of leadoff doubles, so I had to work my way out of some situations. And, when I needed that strikeout, I used the change.”

He must have used it often because he finished the game with 17 strikeouts and walked only one batter. The right-hander ended up with a four-hitter and was still throwing heat at the end, striking out the side in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.

“I don’t know how much further I could have gone, maybe one more inning, but I really wanted to finish. I only had five other starts and had trouble finishing, so I wanted to close this one out.”

Offensively, MSU belted 16 hits, including a pair of doubles by Matt Odegard, another two-bagger by Jeremy Sudbeck and a two-run triple by Pat Dockendorf.

“We weren’t pressing or anything,” Dockendorf said. “After the loss (to St. Cloud) we went home and rested up a little bit and then, by the time we were back for batting practice, we were fired up and ready to go.

Dockendorf finished 3 or 4 with three RBIs, Lucas Skjefte was 3 for 4 with an RBI, Ben Kincaid went 2 for 4 and drove in two runs and Matt Kuchenbecker also had two hits.

Augustana went through seven pitchers. Starter Brian Voigt took the loss, allowing four earned runs on six hits over two innings.

In the 3-2 loss to St. Cloud State, Scott Leiser, Chris Kubitz and New Ulm-native Kyle Fischer combined to scatter eight hits for the Huskies.

MSU staked St. Cloud to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when starting pitcher Kincaid walked two batters with the bases loaded. The Huskies picked up their third run in the fifth on a solo homer by Sean Borman over the 383-foot mark in center field.

The Mavericks got their first run in the third on an RBI single by Kuchenbecker and added another run in the ninth on Scott Lindner’s base hit with runners on first and second. MSU had the tying run on second in the bottom of the ninth, but Fischer induced a ground out to end the game.

Kincaid took the loss, allowing three earned runs on seven hits, fanning seven and walking four. Leiser got the win.

Connor McCallum finished 4 for 4 for MSU.

The Mavericks (42-10) have to beat St. Cloud State twice today to win the tournament. Starting time for the first game is noon at Franklin Rogers Park.

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