Two of the most consistent programs in Division II baseball met as part of the Russ Matt Invitational on Sunday afternoon in NE Regional Park in Davenport, Florida.  The Griffins and Minnesota State played a contest that had postseason intensity with the Mavericks walking off the Griffins with a 2-1 victory.  SHU is now 5-3 overall while the Mavs improve to 8-3.  

Each team had chances to score but the pitching staffs did a great job of getting out of jams.  

The Griffins threatened in the top of the first inning.  Jack Whalen led off with a single and stole second.  He moved to third on a one out single from Jack Oberdorf but the Mavs got back to back groundouts to end the inning.  Minnesota State had two runners on in the second but Kevin Vaupel got back to back strikeouts to end the inning.  

Minnesota State scored their first run in the third on an RBI triple but Vaupel snagged a liner and doubled off the runner from third to get out of the inning. SHU tied the score in the top of the fourth.  With one out, Vincenzo Rauso singled and scored on a double from Max Mandler.  

The Mavs had another great scoring chance in the seventh.  After a leadoff single and walk, the Griffins went to Aiidan Layton from the pen.  Layton got a strikeout and then a 6-3 double play to end the inning.  Mandler singled and stole second with one out in the ninth but two strikeouts ended the inning.  

Minnesota State got a one out single with a balk moving the runner to second.  After a walk and wild pitch put runners on first and third, the Griffins could not get an out at the plate on a ground ball and the Mavs walked off the Griffins.  

Mandler led SHU with three hits.  Vaupel went 6+ innings, giving up one run and striking out nine.

SHU will next travel to #2 Tamps on Monday afternoon.