SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Winona State managed to jump out to an early 4-0 lead over No. 5 Minnesota State in the first round of the NSIC/US Bank Tournament on Wednesday at Sioux Falls Stadium, but a seventh inning rally and a huge defensive play allowed the Mavericks to squeak away with a 5-4 victory.
 
Junior shortstop Tyler Nehring had a huge 3-for-4 day from the plate that included a solo home run and an RBI triple, finishing just a double away from the cycle.
 
The Warriors jumped on the board first against the Mavericks. After Jordan Plamann reached on a dropped flyball by the center fielder, Tyler Nehring smashed an RBI triple to left center to score Plamann from first to make it a 1-0 game. Jesus Cazares made it 2-0 on the next at-bat on a single that rolled through the left side to score Nehring.
 
Two innings later, Nehring brought even more power with his bat. On a 3-1 count, Nehring launched a leadoff solo blast over the left field wall to expand Winona State's advantage to 3-0.
 
In the fifth inning, the Warriors added one more. With the bases loaded and no one out, senior first baseman Travis Evanson hit a groundball double play to the second baseman, but scored Plamann from third on the play to make it a 4-0 game.
 
Minnesota State rallied in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs on an RBI single, a sacrifice fly, and an RBI groundout to cut the Warrior lead to 4-3.
 
The Mavericks picked up two more runs in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to take a 5-4 lead to end WSU starter Chase Blazier's day.
 
Scott Freiburger came in and pitched the remaining 1 1/3 innings to get the Warriors to the ninth down just a run.
 
In the ninth, Winona State made things interesting by loading the bases with one out as Andrew Geislinger was hit by a pitch and both Plamann and Nehring hit back-to-back singles to load the bases for Cazares.
 
However, Cazares hit a sharp ground ball that the Maverick shortstop made a tough play on and managed to turn a double play from his knees on an amazing defensive play to end Winona State's threat and allow Minnesota State to come away with the 5-4 victory.
 
Blazier took a tough loss for the Warriors, pitching 6 2/3 innings and giving up five earned runs on 12 hits and walked none with a strikeout.
 
With the loss, Winona State will take on Concordia-St. Paul, who lost 5-3 to Augustana in the first round of the NSIC/US Bank Tournament. The Warriors will play the Golden Bears at 7 p.m. at Ronken Field in Sioux Falls.