RAPID CITY, S.D. – The University of Jamestown baseball team wrapped up its series with Minnesota State University on Tuesday with another NSIC doubleheader.

Game One
The Mavericks utilized a powerful offensive display, launching six home runs on the way to a 15-4 win.

Minnesota State built an early advantage, scoring three runs in the first inning and adding three more in the second on a three-run home run by Jake Berkland.

Trailing 6-0, Jamestown found its power stroke in the bottom of the second inning. Trayson Kostial led off the frame with a solo home run to right field. Two batters later, Jett Nelson drove a solo shot to left field to put the Jimmies on the board.

In the bottom of the third, Mathieu Morin cut the deficit to 6-3 with a solo home run of his own to right field.

The Mavericks answered emphatically in the top of the fifth, using the long ball to extend their lead. Brandon Vlcko and Cole Yearsley hit back-to-back solo home runs, prompting a Jamestown pitching change. Pambos Nicoloudes then greeted the bullpen with a solo home run to center field, pushing the MSU lead to 9-3.

UJ manufactured a run in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to the speed of Morin. After leading off the inning with a single to center, Morin stole both second and third base. He then crossed the plate on an RBI groundout by Ben Swennumson.

MSU put the game out of reach with a five-run seventh inning, punctuated by a three-run home run to center field from Louis Magers.

Top Performers

• Mathieu Morin (UJ): 2-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 R, 2 SB
• Trayson Kostial (UJ): 1-for-3, HR, RBI, R
• Jett Nelson (UJ): 1-for-3, HR, RBI, R
• CJ Trask (MSU): 3-for-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R
• Ethan Bowers (MSU): 3-for-5, RBI, 3 R, SB
• Louis Magers (MSU): 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R

Pitching Lines
Nolan McCaffery (0-1) took the loss for Jamestown, pitching four innings and allowing six earned runs on seven hits while striking out one. Isaac Hanson and Ryan Morales both pitched in relief for the Jimmies.

Mack Crowley (2-0) earned the win for the Mavericks. He allowed three runs on four hits over five innings of work, striking out four. Brody Schulte and Brady Nelson each tossed a hitless inning of relief to close out the game.

Game Two
Despite a late-inning offensive surge and a pair of mid-game home runs, the Jimmies fell 8-5 to the Mavericks in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader.

The Jimmies (0-8, 0-4 NSIC) showed resilience against the Mavericks (7-1, 4-0 NSIC), out-hitting MSU 10-9 on the afternoon and bringing the tying run to the on-deck circle in the final frame.

Minnesota State built an early cushion, plating a run in the first inning and capitalizing on a two-run triple from Ethan Bowers in the second to help extend their lead to 5-1.

Jamestown manufactured its first run in the bottom of the first inning using its speed. After Mathieu Morin walked and advanced to third on an error and a fielder's choice, he successfully stole home on a double steal to put the Jimmies on the board.

Trailing 7-1 entering the bottom of the fifth, the Jimmie bats came to life. Morin sparked the offense by leading off the inning with a solo home run to right field. After a groundout, Trayson Kostial joined the home run parade, crushing a solo shot of his own to right to cut the deficit to 7-3.

UJ continued to chip away at the lead in the sixth. Benney Benitez was hit by a pitch to open the frame, advanced to second on a balk, and scored when Mason Shea ripped an RBI double to center field, making it an 8-4 game.

After the Mavericks were held scoreless in the top of the seventh, Jamestown mounted one final threat. Jett Nelson led off the inning with a sharp single to center field. Two batters later, pinch-hitter Ben Swennumson delivered an RBI single to right field to score Nelson. With the score at 8-5 and the tying run coming to the plate, MSU reliever C. Haugen secured a game-ending strikeout to seal the victory.

Top Performers

• Mathieu Morin (UJ): 1-for-2, HR, RBI, 2 R, BB, 2 SB
• Jett Nelson (UJ): 2-for-4, R
• Trayson Kostial (UJ): 1-for-3, HR, RBI, R, HBP
• Mason Shea (UJ): 1-for-4, 2B, RBI
• Ethan Bowers (MSU): 2-for-2, 3B, 2B, 2 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB, 2 SB
• Jake Berkland (MSU): 2-for-2, 4 RBI, 2 SF, SB

Pitching Lines
Starter Nic Lewandowski (0-1) took the loss for Jamestown, yielding five earned runs on six hits over 2 1/3 innings. The Jimmie bullpen provided an excellent effort to keep the game within reach. Ben Bohlmann was dominant in his relief appearance, striking out six batters and allowing zero earned runs over 2 1/3 innings. Isaac Rodriguez finished the game, allowing just one run over the final 2 1/3 frames.

Braden Grimm started for MSU and tossed two innings, allowing one unearned run with four strikeouts. Ben Irsfeld (1-0) picked up the win after throwing two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.

Jamestown will play Rockhurst University in a doubleheader on Saturday, February 28 to begin the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.