MANKATO, Minn. – The Concordia-St. Paul baseball team (16-12, 10-6 NSIC) saw their seven-game winning streak snapped as they were swept by Minnesota State (21-4, 16-0 NSIC) on Wednesday afternoon. The Golden Bears dropped game one 12-2 and game two 8-2.
 
It was a tough day for the Golden Bears as they ran into the top team in the league in Minnesota State as the Mavericks extended their own winning streak to 17 while snapped Concordia's streak of seven in a row.
 
GAME ONE: Minnesota State 12, Concordia-St. Paul 2
The Golden Bears scored first, but saw the next 12 runs go in favor of the Mavericks as Minnesota State pulled away for a 12-2 win in the first game of the day.
 
CSP picked up a double from Connor Olson and an infield single from Isaac Hormann to open up the game, but collected just three more hits the rest of the way. Tanner Holmquist followed with a sacrifice fly to put the Golden Bears in front 1-0 after a half inning of action.
 
The Mavericks quickly responded in their half of the first by hanging a five spot on the board. The big hit came in the form of a Tommy McDonald grand glam to push it to 5-1. Josh Wenzel added a homer of his own in the bottom of the second before MSU doubled their total in the fourth.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Minnesota State took advantage of some CSP miscues as they scored six runs on just three hits as the Golden Bears hit two batters, walked another and committed two errors in the inning.
 
Concordia picked up two more of their hits in the top of the fifth as Adam Hildebrandt sent a one-out single to center before a fielder's choice retired Hildebrandt and put Olson on first. Olson crossed the plate for the second time of the game as Steven Nessler delivered a double into the gap in left center to cut the gap to 12-2.
 
That would be CSP's last hit against MSU starter Dalton Roach until Gunnar McCarthy picked up an opposite field pinch-hit single in the seventh off the Maverick bullpen.
 
Roach (5-0) stayed unbeaten as he worked 6.0 innings with nine strikeouts while allowing two runs on four hits in the win.
 
Riley Sweeney (2-1) took his first loss in a Golden Bear uniform, lasting 2.0 innings in the start. Louie Varland and Shane Benson each worked 2.0 innings in relief as Benson allowed just one hit and struck out three in his collegiate debut.
 
GAME TWO: Minnesota State 8, Concordia-St. Paul 2
The Mavericks used a similar recipe to game one as they put up a big first inning before cruising for a comfortable win in game two.
 
The Golden Bears had seven hits compared to eight for MSU but were unable to turn them into runs as Minnesota State took advantage of their opportunities.
 
Patrick Bordewick led the way by going 2-4 with an RBI double while Connor Olson, Tanner Holmquist, Zach Elder, Mickey Leius and Steven Nessler all added a hit apiece in the loss.
 
Mitchell Bauer (4-0) held the Concordia offense in check for much of the game as the MSU hurler allowed just two runs on five hits while striking out five in his 8.0 innings in the win.
 
Connor Hurley (2-1) was unable to replicate the success of his two previous starts as he allowed five runs in 4.0 innings while striking out four. Erik Monson came on to work the final 4.0 innings, allowing three runs on three hits with three strikeouts.
 
For the second game in a row, the Mavericks put a crooked number on the board in the first as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Four of the first five hitters reached base as the Mavericks turned two hits into three runs to take the early lead.
 
CSP did manage to get one back in the top of the second after Mickey Leius singled with two outs and Patrick Bordewick double him home, but MSU answered right back with a run in the bottom of the inning to make it 4-1.
 
Minnesota State added single runs in the fourth and fifth on sacrifice flies before Jordan Hart launched a two-run homer in the sixth to extend the advantage all the way out to 8-1.
 
Steven Nessler led off the eighth for Concordia and was hit by a pitch before Connor Olson drove him in with a double, but that would be all the closer they would get. The Golden Bears put runners on the corners in the ninth before Minnesota State closed out the 8-2 win to complete the sweep.
 
Concordia will look to return to the win column this weekend as they head north to take on St. Cloud State in a four-game series.