GAME RECAP Taylor Branstad 2/12/16 Brody Rodning MSU 3 Arkansas-Monticello 2 MSU 3 Arkansas-Monticello 1 MONTICELLO Ark. --- No. 9 Minnesota State opened the 2016 season with two wins on Friday afternoon at Arkansas-Monticello by scores of 3-2 and 3-1. Since 1964, Minnesota State now has a record in season openers of 30-23, has now started off the season with two wins 16 times since the '64 season. Under head coach Matt Magers, MSU is 7-1 in season openers. Minnesota State got their momentum started in the bottom of the second inning as starting pitcher, sophomore Dalton Roach dealt three-straight strikeouts to the Weevils five, six and seven hitters. Minnesota State go on the board first in the fourth inning when sophomore Luke Waldek hit a one-out single through the right side of the infield, and advancing on a wild pitch. Senior Hunter Harnisch belted a single up the middle with two outs to bring in Waldek from second, collecting one of his two RBI in the game. The Weevils struck back in the sixth inning when Cory Wood led the frame off with a homerun off of Maverick relief-pitcher, junior Josh Matheson, tying the game at 1-1. Matheson would settle down afterwards, not giving up a run for the next three innings, eventually recording his fourth-career victory. In the top of the ninth, it was Waldek again who got things going for the Maverick offense, leading off the inning with a double to left. Harnisch collected his second RBI when he tagged a one-out single to left, scoring Waldek from second base. A couple of singles from freshman Jordan Hart and senior Kyle Toth brought in Harnisch to give the Mavericks a two run cushion. In the bottom of the ninth it would be junior Dakota Belter collecting his first save of the season, giving up one run for a final on the scoreboard of 3-2. The Mavericks out hit the Weevils in game one by a margin of 9-4, committing two errors to the Weevils zero. Roach struck out a total of five batters on the day while giving up one hit. Minnesota State picked up right from where they left off, scoring one run in the top of the first and third innings. Senior Taylor Branstad started the offense with a two-out triple and scoring on a pass ball in the first. In the third, Branstad scored again, this time from second base as sophomore Josh Wenzel hit the left-center gap for a double. The Weevils cut the lead to one in the bottom of the third when Evan Comeau knocked a double off of Maverick starting pitcher, sophomore Brody Rodning. Comeau would advance to third off of a Kevin Fitzpatrick single to right field, and then finally scoring UAM's first run of the game after tagging-up on Travis Steinke's fly out to center field. The Mavericks capped of the games scoring in the fifth inning when junior Eric Petersen led the inning off with a single to left and then moving over to second after a Branstad single up the middle. Petersen eventually reached home on a Weevils fielding error, solidifying the Mavericks second win of the day. Rodning threw a complete game allowing one run on five hits and striking out 11. 2/13/16 MSU 12 Arkansas-Monticello 11 MONTICELLO Ark. --- No. 9 Minnesota State won its third game of the season, in extra innings, taking the three-game sweep over Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday afternoon by way of 12-11. Minnesota State is now 4-1 all-time against UAM. After Arkansas-Monticello took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, Minnesota State tallied three runs in the second and third innings to gain a 3-1 lead over the Weevils. In the top of the second, sophomore Dylan Dresel lead off with a walk with senior Hunter Harnisch following with a two-out double to left field, scoring Dresel from first. In the third inning, senior Taylor Branstad took advantage of a two-out walk with Dresel and sophomore Josh Wenzel notching two consecutive singles to take a 2-1 lead. Dresel moved to third on Wenzel's hit and then scored on a wild pitch when Wenzel stole second base. The Weevils claimed the lead back in the bottom of the inning, producing six runs (four unearned), including a two-run homerun off of Maverick starting pitcher Mitchell Bauer. Bauer would finish his outing with 2.2 innings pitched, giving up two earned runs with one strikeout and one walk. Senior Peter Gaustad would finish up the pitching duties in the third with the Weevils up 7-3. The Mavericks tacked on four more runs in the fifth and sixth innings, to UAM's two runs in that stretch to cut the Weevils lead to 9-7. Minnesota State regained the lead in the top of the eighth inning with four more runs putting the Mavericks up 11-9, but the Weevils would not go down without a fight. In the bottom of the ninth with reliever Josh Matheson on the mound for the Maverick, Marshall McPherson blasted a homer to right field to tie the game at 11 runs apiece. Neither team struck in the final regulation inning, forcing extra baseball. In the top of the 10th inning, Branstad would add to his already spectacle day with a blast to right field that left the ball park, eventually proving to be the game-winning marker. The Mavericks pitching staff gave up five earned runs on the day, striking out six batters while giving up 17 hits and six walks to the Weevils. Senior closer Dakota Belter collected the win after his 2.1 innings of work on the hill. Branstad ended the day 3-4 with a homerun, four runs scored, two RBI, and two walks while Dresel and Wenzel produced two hits apiece and Wenzel producing three RBI as well.
PLAYER PROFILES #2 Taylor Branstad OF 5-9 Senior L/L Apple Valley, Minn. 2015 Started 52 games for the Purple and Gold...Posted 66 hits and owned a batting average of.355...had hitting streaks of 10 games and 13 games during course of season...went 3-4 with a four RBI and two runs including a walk-off three-run home run in season opener against Grand Valley State to give Mavericks 7-5 win. 2014 Started 51 of 57 contests for Minnesota State and hit.311 with a.417 on-base and.413 slugging percentage...fourth on team with 27 walks and added five stolen bases with a.974 fielding percentage...produced a home run, a triple, 12 doubles, 28 RBI and 38 runs...recorded a season-high four hits with two RBI against Emporia State at the NCAA Central Region Tournament on May 15...Went three-for-four with a double, a run and two RBI in a win over Southern Indiana on May 29 at the NCAA DII Baseball Championships. High School Three-year letterwinner...two-time all-conference winner...senior year hit.328 with 24 hits, six home runs, 17 RBI and 5 doubles...all-state and selected to play in Lions All-Star game...led conference in home runs...three-time letterwinner in hockey and two-time letterwinner in football. Personal Born on January 19, 1993...Son of Arlin and Judy Branstad...Outside interests include outdoor hockey, golfing, fishing and hunting...major is business. Q&A with Taylor... 1. What kind of music do you listen to? R&B/Hip Hop 2. What is your major? Marketing/Management 3. Favorite class taken at MSU? Entrepreneurship 4. Best food bought with meal money on a trip? A Dew 5. Favorite restaurant in Mankato? Jonny B s #4 Kyle Toth 7. Favorite meal served by parents in between games? Pulled Pork/Sloppy Joe 8. Favorite pasttime when not playing baseball? Hockey 9. One thing most people don t know about you? I really want to start a business. INF 6-0 Senior R/R Scottsdale, Ariz. 2015 Started 33 games for the Purple and Gold and appeared in 41...Hit.311 with 11 doubles and 35 runs scored...went 2-3 with a double, one RBI and two runs scored vs. Bemidji State on April 11...Had an 11-game hitting streak earlier in the season. Pre-MSU Attended Ole Miss for one season...granted a medical redshirt...two year letter winner for the Yavapai College Roughriders...Hit.341 with two home runs and 35 RBI as a sophomore...tailed 12 doubles, two triples, and 44 runs...finished top five nationally in double plays turned. High School Two-year letterwinner for the Chaparral High Firebirds...Defensive player of the year as a senior...helped guide the Firebirds to a 5A state championship...first-team all-region after hitting.400 with two homeruns and 17 RBI. Personal Born Dec. 5, 1992...Son of Ken and Kim Toth...Proposed mass media and marketing major...father Ken played football at Michigan State. Q&A with Kyle... 1. What kind of music do you listen to? Rock/Pop/Reggae 2. What is your major? Mass Media 3. Favorite class taken at MSU? Digital Design 4. Best food bought with meal money on a trip? Chipotle 5. Favorite restaurant in Mankato? Chipotle 7. Favorite meal served by parents in between games? Jonny B s 8. Favorite pasttime when not playing baseball? Playing guitar 9. One thing most people don t know about you? Avid flying drone enthusiast
CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB The Championship Club is the chief fundraising function for the Minnesota State University, Mankato baseball team. Every dollar raised is used to support and enhance the student-athlete experience. Donor investment has played a key role in the Mavericks 31 Conference Championships. Read more about getting involved HERE. Championship Club website HERE.
UPCOMING GAMES [ 3-0 ] Overall [ 0-0 ] NSIC March 3, 2016 vs. Embry-Riddle 3:00 pm March 3, 2016 vs. Embry-Riddle 5:00 pm March 4, 2016 vs. Embry-Riddle 3:00 pm March 5, 2016 vs. Ohio Dominion 4:30 pm Lake Myrtle #6, Fla. COACH SPOTLIGHT P.J. McIntee McIntee joins the Mavericks after serving as an assistant coach in 2015 at Morehead State (Ky.) where he served on a staff that led the Eagles to a 38-22 overall record, an Ohio Valley Conference tournament title and a spot in the NCAA Division I Louisville qualifier. McIntee's responsibilities at Morehead State included working with catchers, base running, assisting with hitters, on-campus recruiting and running camps and showcases. From 2012-14 he was assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Southeastern (Iowa) Community College and helped lead SCC to the 2014 National Junior College Athletic Association World Series where the Blackhawks placed fifth in the country. A 2009 graduate of Bemidji State where he was a four-year letterwinner with the BSU baseball program, McIntee owns an undergraduate degree in sport management (2009). The Randolph, Minn., native who owns a masters degree in sport studies (2015), spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons as a graduate assistant baseball coach for Tim Belew at Bemidji State. PJ also has summer collegiate baseball coaching experience in the Northwoods League after serving as an assistant coach with Willmar in 2013 and 2014 and with Nampa of the Boise Summer League in 2009 and 2010. Q&A with P.J. 1. What kind of music do you listen to? Country 2. Reason you chose to become a Maverick? Great tradition, coaching staff and environment 3. Where did you play collegiately? What position? Bemidji State, Infield 4. Best food item bought with meal money on a trip? Rold Gold pretzels 5. Favorite restaurants in Mankato? Ummies & Jonny B s 7. Game day rituals? Drink a cup of coffee in the morning (I don t really have any) 8. Favorite pasttime when not playing baseball? Fishing 9. Something people don t know about you? I really enjoy cooking on my grill in the summer, my brother plays baseball at Wayne State (Sr.) and I met Keith Urban in person before a concert at the Xcel a few years ago.
TURN BACK THE CLOCK... The 1988 Mankato State Mavericks finished with a 30-17 record winning the North Central Conference Regular and Tournament Championships while finishing second place in the NCAA Regional, after losing 3-1 to Lewis University. Following the season Greg Head, Mike Mattson, Tom Lepel, Tim Lepel, Paul Mills, and Jay Ovsak were all named All-NCC First Team and Mark Young would sign a professional contract with the Texas Rangers. STAY CONNECTED For more information on MSU Baseball visit www.msumavericks.com and be sure to click on Additional Links (top, right) for information on NSIC standings, the 2016 Baseball prospectus, baseball camps, Maviercks in the majors, history, and more. Facebook: Click HERE (http://www.facebook.com/minnesota.baseball) Twitter: @MinnStBaseball @MSUMavericks Head Coach Matt Magers Twitter: @magers14 mathew.magers@mnsu.edu W: (507) 389-2413 Assistant Coach PJ McIntee Twitter: @PMcIntee4 patrick.mcintee@mnsu.edu W: (507-389-2689 This week s presented by: