RAPID CITY, S.D. – The University of Jamestown baseball team opened Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with a doubleheader against Minnesota State University on on Monday afternoon.

Game One
The Mavericks (4-1) utilized a pair of early home runs to build a substantial lead, and despite a late rally and a strong relief appearance from the bullpen, the Jimmies (0-5) were unable to overcome the deficit.

Minnesota State opened the scoring in the top of the second inning. After back-to-back walks put runners on base, Ethan Bowers launched a two-out, three-run home run to right field to give the Mavericks a 3-0 advantage.

MSU struck again in the third. Brandon Vlcko belted a two-run homer to right, and Louis Magers added an RBI single later in the frame to cap a four-run inning, extending the lead to 7-0.

Jamestown's pitching settled into a rhythm after the third inning. Reliever Payton Hochhalter kept the Mavericks off the board during his outing, tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings and scattering three hits to keep the Jimmies within striking distance.

The Jimmie offense broke through in the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs, Mathieu Morin kept the inning alive with a single to center field. Adrian Warcken immediately followed by ripping an RBI double to right field, bringing Morin around to score and cutting the final margin to 8-1.

Top Performers

• Adrian Warcken (UJ): 3-for-4, 2B, RBI
• Jett Nelson (UJ): 2-for-3
• Mathieu Morin (UJ): 1-for-4, R
• Ethan Bowers (MSU): 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, R
• Brandon Vlcko (MSU): 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R

Luke Zimmer (0-2) started on the mound for Jamestown and took the loss, allowing seven runs on seven hits over 2 2/3 innings while striking out one. Hochhalter, Beckett Stimpson, and Daniel Clusiau provided steady relief out of the bullpen over the final 4 1/3 innings.

Sam George (2-0) earned the win for the Mavericks, pitching four scoreless innings and striking out six. Gannon Reidinger picked up his first save, tossing the final three innings and allowing one run on four hits.

Game Two
|MSU completed the sweep with a 16-0 victory in the second game of the doubleheader.

The Mavericks (5-1) utilized a consistent and powerful offensive attack, scoring in all seven innings to secure the victory and keep the Jimmies (0-6) searching for their first win of the season.

MSU jumped out to a quick start, capitalizing on a wild pitch and a passed ball to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. After adding two more runs in the second, the Mavericks broke the game wide open in the third inning. CJ Trask launched a two-run home run to left field, and Brandon Vlcko followed shortly after with a three-run blast to center, extending the lead to 9-0.

Vlcko continued his big day at the plate in the fourth inning, driving an RBI double to left field to cap a four-run frame for the Mavericks.

The Jimmie offense was stifled throughout the afternoon by a trio of MSU pitchers. Jamestown's bats were held hitless until the bottom of the fifth inning. Jett Nelson broke up the no-hitter with a one-out single to center field. Two batters later, Benney Benitez singled to center as well, but the scoring threat ended when pinch-runner Mason Shea was thrown out at the plate attempting to score.

Top Performers

• Jett Nelson (UJ): 1-for-2
• Benney Benitez (UJ): 1-for-2
• Brandon Vlcko (MSU): 3-for-3, HR, 2B, 5 RBI, R
• CJ Trask (MSU): 2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
• Jake Berkland (MSU): 3-for-5, 3 R
• Louis Magers (MSU): 2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 R

Jamestown starter Karver Partlow (0-2) took the loss, pitching 2 2/3 innings and allowing nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits while striking out three. The Jimmies utilized the bullpen heavily, with Elias Harris, Kai Mayfield, and Ben Patton tossing the remaining 4 1/3 innings in relief.

Daniel Zang started for the Mavericks and threw three hitless innings, striking out six of the ten batters he faced. Brody Schulte (1-0) and Ben Llewellyn combined to finish the game, allowing just two hits over the final four innings of shutout relief.

The two teams finish their series with a doubleheader on Tuesday beginning at 12:00 p.m. Central / 11:00 a.m. Mountain.