Article

Mavericks stomp Bulldogs in NCC action

Rude welcoming

By Brian Ojanpa
Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — As Dorothy said upon reaching the Land of Oz, "We're not in Kansas anymore."

As the University of Minnesota-Duluth baseball team might have said upon being swept Saturday, "We're not in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference anymore."

The Bulldogs, a new member of the North Central Conference, opened NCC play Saturday with 6-0 and 9-2 losses to Minnesota State at the MSU Baseball Complex.

Afterward, longtime UMD coach Scott Hanna was not amused by his team's maiden voyage into the formidable NCC.

"This ain't no rabbit hunt here. I've been in this game 30 years. I know what it's like in this league," he said. "We can't make mistakes and expect to win. Our hitting was horrible, and our pitching was worse.

"The nice thing about it is that tomorrow's another day. Hopefully, we'll play a little better. If not, we'll drop another couple."

Hanna's candid rant notwithstanding, the Mavericks had a lot to do with taking any growl out of the Bulldogs.

MSU got complete-game performances from Matt McMurtry and Mark Dolenc, and the Mavericks banged out 23 hits in winning its sixth straight game.

Junior lefty Matt McMurty (2-1) tossed a two-hitter in the first game, and his 10 strikeouts tied his career-high.

McMurty, who went 8-2 last season and this year was named to the preseason All-Central Region squad, said he's a more refined pitcher this season.

"The big thing is that I'm hitting my spots better this year - on the corners and on the knees."

McMurty said a gusty wind blowing in from left center affected the way he approached UMD hitters.

"The wind affected my changeup. I couldn't spot it that well, so I just showed it to them, and I tried to keep pitches inside to righties and outside to lefties."

Sophomore centerfielder Eric Austvold of New Ulm had three hits and shortstop Ryan Greene hit his second homer of the year in the first game.

In the second game, Austvold and Kurt Beulke both hit their fourth homers of the year.

Landon Danelson, Scott Kemp, and Dane Allen all had three hits.

Sophomore righthander Dolenc (2-1) held UMD to five hits.

MSU improves to 15-8, 2-0 in the NCC. UMD goes to 10-12, 0-2.

The two teams conclude their series in Mankato with another doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. today.