shortcut to content
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Minnesota State University, Mankato

Latest information about COVID-19 and the campus community

×

Article

Page address: https://web.mnsu.edu/sports/championshipclub/news/html/2007/gonzalez_slam.html

Gonzalez, Mavs Slam SCSU

Senior second baseman blasts two grand slams Monday as Mavericks finish 3-1 weekend vs. St. Cloud State.
by Tyler Buckentine
Issue date: 4/24/07 Section: Mens Sports

Nick Gonzalez is credited plenty for his smart defensive play and team leadership, but it was his bat that led MSU past St. Cloud State Monday.

The senior second baseman hit a pair of grand slams yesterday as the Mavericks (30-7 overall, 10-1 North Central Conference) swept the Huskies 7-5 and 10-2 at Dick Putz Field in St. Cloud. On Friday, MSU split a doubleheader with SCSU at the MSU Baseball Complex.

"All week, [Mavericks coach Dean Bowyer] had us working on hitting with the bases loaded because we struggled on Friday with the bases loaded," Gonzalez said. "He got us in the mindset for it and I was just looking for a pitch to drive.

"I was kind of surprised, but I knew they were both gone right away when I hit them."

MSU trailed 4-3 going into the third inning, but Josh Simon and Kyle Hoover each homered to cut the lead to one. One inning later, Gonzalez hit a grand slam, which made the score 7-4 and put the Mavericks up for good.

In the fifth inning of the second game, SCSU cut the MSU lead in half to make the score 4-2. Simon led the next inning off with a solo blast and six batters later, Gonzalez smashed his second grand slam of the afternoon to break the game open 9-2.

"[Nick's] one of our better hitters," Bowyer said. "He had such good swings and he got some good pitches and did something with them."

Gonzalez made an important defensive play in the fourth inning of the second game without even touching the ball.

A line drive was hit just over his glove, but faked that he caught the ball so that SCSU baserunner would go back to first base. MSU centerfielder Zach Danelson picked the ball up and fired it to Scott Kemp at second base for the force out.

"I've never seen that play happen before," Bowyer said. "That's just baseball intelligence. Nick's got a mind for the game."

Friday's doubleheader in Mankato didn't go as smooth. The Huskies beat the Mavericks 4-3 at the MSU Baseball Complex for the first time since April 24, 2004 when SCSU defeated MSU 8-3. The Mavericks stranded 12 runners in the game.

"That was probably the worst mentally that we've been in a game so far this season," Bowyer said. "We took them lightly and we just didn't play well. With a team like [SCSU], the longer they stay in the game, the more they think they have a chance to win."

"We were pretty shocked because we're a good team and losses to teams like that shouldn't happen," Gonzalez said. "We knew we had to get after it. We worked hard at practice on Saturday and it showed today."

One bright spot in game one was Dane Secott setting the MSU career strikeouts record with 242.

The Mavericks bounced back with a 4-3 win in the second game. Simon hit a pitch the opposite way off the right field fence to score Jay Bresnahan for the game-winning run.

"We needed [the win]," Gonzalez said. "Those games are so important in the region and the conference that we had to do it. The guys beared down and we got it done."

The Mavericks travel to Upper Iowa for a doubleheader with the Peacocks (25-14) at 2:30 on Wednesday in Fayette, Iowa.

Tyler Buckentine is the Reporter Assistant Sports Editor