BASEBALL: (VIDEO) Huskies Split Twinbill Against MSU on April 14

Joey Benke

(VIDEO) The St. Cloud State University baseball team split a doubleheader under sunny skies at Joe Faber Field on April 14 against Minnesota State University.  In game one, the Mavs picked up a 5-2 win before the Huskies rallied with a big 11-3 win in game two.

The split moves SCSU's record to 24-9, 9-5 NSIC, while Minnesota State keeps pace in the NSIC with a 24-6, 12-2 NSIC record.  The two teams will complete their weekend series with a doubleheader at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud on April 15.  The games will begin at 1 p.m. and fans can listen to both games on KVSC (www.kvsc.org)

In game two, the Huskies piled on the runs early to bring home the big 11-3 victory for starting pitcher Logan Birr (6-0).  In the first inning, SCSU posted two runs to make it 2-1.  In the bottom of the second, SCSU secured the game winning runs with four including a three-run homer by Joey Benke that gave the Huskies a 6-1 lead.

In the third inning, SCSU iced the game with five more runs to make it 11-2.  MSU finished the game with one more run in the sixth inning but Birr was able to hang on for the win with relief help in the eighth and ninth inning from Nick Maier.

Birr ended the game with six strikeouts and eight hits allowed.  Benke was impressive with two hits, two runs and five RBIs.  Phil Imholte, Mike Jurgella, Travis Cariveau and Steve Rindelaub all had two hits in the game for SCSU, while Jurgella and Rindelaub both had two RBIs for the Huskies.

In the game, SCSU outhit the Mavs 14-8, as Bryce Bellin (6-1) was the pitcher of record for MSU. 

In game one, the Huskies lost a 5-2 decision against Minnesota State at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud.

The Mavericks set the tempo early in game one with a three-run homer by Patrick Dockendorf in the first inning.  SCSU replied in the bottom of the first with a solo bomb by senior first baseman Joey Benke (Roseau).

In the second inning, MSU added another run before the Huskies' Phil Imholte (St Cloud) scored on a double by catcher Travis Enger (Maple Grove).   The game settled into a defensive battle until MSU iced the game with one more run in the seventh to make it 5-2.

In the game, MSU outhit the Huskies 8-6.  Borman and Enger each had doubles in the game for SCSU, while Benke had the home run.  On the mound, Harvey Martin collected the win with six innings of pitching and five strikeouts.  Nick Sutherland pitched the final inning to get the save for MSU.  

Scott Lieser (6-4) posted the complete game decision for the Huskies with eight hits allowed and six strikeouts to his credit.