MINNETONKA, Minn. - Concordia-St. Paul (10-17, 5-10 NSIC) had early momentum in the series finale against #26 Minnesota State (18-6, 11-1 NSIC) but ultimately fell 11-1 to the Mavericks on Sunday afternoon at Veterans Field on the campus of Minnetonka High School.

Concordia will aim to keep its home opener on campus for a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader against Winona State at Barnes Field, scheduled for a noon start followed by a weekend series bumped up a day to Friday and Saturday at Barnes Field against Sioux Falls.

In the series finale, for the second-straight day the Mavericks were able to score a run in the first inning without a hit, loading the bases with a pair of hit by pitch to start the game followed by a one-out walk. A sacrifice fly scored the Mavericks' first run, but freshman Ryley Wuebkers was able to contain the Mavericks by inducing another fly out to right.

Concordia responded by putting the first two aboard in the bottom of the inning as Kaden Johnson had a sharp single to the hole at short and Charlie Harms walked. A foul out to right field allowed Johnson to reach third and he would score on an RBI groundout by Eric Berg.

Wuebkers worked out of a second and third situation in in the second inning and the Golden Bears appeared poised to take the lead in the bottom of the frame.

Chase McQuade led off with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and reached third on a grounder up the middle for the first out. But McQuade was left in scoring position as CSP wasn't able to take its first lead of the series. 

The Mavericks took advantage by scoring three runs in the top of the third to take a 4-1 lead.

Wuebkers would pitch into the fifth inning in his first career start. He allowed five runs (four earned) in 4.1 innings on five hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts.

With MSU starting pitcher Louis Magers returning to his designated hitter role in the third inning, CSP wouldn't put a runner into scoring position against the Mavericks until the fifth inning when Bennett Brathol drew a leadoff walk and reached second on Johnson's two-out walk, but Concordia couldn't cut into what was now a 6-1 lead for MSU in the middle innings.

MSU added five more in the sixth inning for a 10-run lead while the Golden Bears wouldn't put a runner in scoring position the rest of the way.

MSU reliever Nick Johnson, who worked 1-2-3 third and fourth innings with a pair of strikeouts, would secure his first win of the year.

The Golden Bears and Mavericks each used five pitchers in the series finale, with CSP freshman Nolan Swenson working a scoreless seventh in his second career appearance. 

Johnson led CSP's lineup by going 1-2 with a walk and a run from the top of the order, and Berg drove in the team's lone run on the first-inning RBI groundout. 

The Golden Bears drew five walks and left five on base in the contest.

Ethan Bowers led the Mavericks by going 2-5 with a home run and three RBIs and leadoff hitter Jake Berkland went 2-3 with two runs, two RBIs, two stolen bases and a walk.