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Minnesota State University, Mankato
Minnesota State University, Mankato

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

Baseball Rallies in Seventh Inning, Blows Out Waldorf In Sweep

by Garret Felder
April 13, 2006

Although the Mavericks won both of their games during their doubleheader with Waldorf, MSU was showing early signs of defeat until a pair of walks turned into a game-winning home run for junior Nick Gonzalez and a series sweep for the Mavericks.

“It was kind of the same thing that happened at Upper Iowa where we just showed up to the field, but we weren't really ready to play,” Gonzalez said. “I think the real jump start was when Seven [head coach Dean Bowyer] came out to the mound and kind of chewed us out. It is kind of embarrassing to see him come out to the mound cause he never does that.”

Freshman Tyler Sander started the first game and worked himself into a little trouble. After three innings, the Mavericks already committed three errors that soon turned into an early Waldorf 5-1 lead.

“Getting ahead of hitters is so important at this level and if you don't place your fastball you are going to get hit very hard,” Sander said. “It's a great thing when your offense scores runs, but I think pitchers have to take the mentality out there that they aren't going to get any runs.”

Despite Sander's rough start and Bowyer making an unusual stroll to the infield, the Mavericks' bats were pulled out of the dugout closet by the fatigued Waldorf bullpen.

After Waldorf closer Nels Nelson walked two batters to start the top of the seventh inning, Waldorf's head coach underestimated MSU's offense by leaving Nelson in and the Mavericks rallied back with five runs to tie up the game.

“Their first pitcher was pretty crafty. He threw a lot of junk and off-speed stuff and our guys were just ahead of it,” said tri-captain Adam Sudbeck. “But as long as we have an at-bat left, we have a chance. We have enough good sticks in the lineup that we are going to have a chance to win a game no matter what.”

After a hitless top of the eighth inning courtesy of junior Jon Huber, Gonzalez stepped up to the plate with two outs and stroked his first walk-off homer of his career, ending a not-so-perfect 7-6 win for MSU.

“It was my first [walk-off home run] so I was pretty pumped up,” Gonzalez said. “I just took it as another one of my at-bats, tried to stay humble and not show much emotion.”

Gonzalez's homer jump-started the Maverick offense for the second game of the doubleheader as MSU's sticks showed no mercy with a 16-4 route and two home runs for Sudbeck.