Minnesota State Fall Report: Championship Standards Drive New-Look Roster

Minnesota State baseball has long established itself as a premier program in Division II, but the 2025 season set a new standard of excellence even for the Mavericks. Head Coach Matt Magers led his squad to a program-tying 51 wins, finishing the year with a remarkable 51-8 record and an NSIC Regular Season and Tournament Championship, which gave him the National Coach of the Year by the NCBWA. The Mavericks were the last undefeated team in the nation to suffer a loss, starting the year 9-0 (including a story where only part of the team made it in time for the first game of the Florida Trip), and earned the right to host the Central Regional at ISG Field.

Now entering his 18th season, Magers boasts a career record of 676-216-1, ranking him as the second-winningest active head coach in Division II by percentage. Despite losing several contributors from a roster that returned to the NCAA tournament for the 17th time in 18 full seasons, the group has shown strong buy-in this fall, blending championship experience with significant transfer depth.

The Offense

The Mavericks must replace significant production following the departures of All-Americans like Ike Mezzenga and All-Region players like Aidan Byrne, but the cupboard is far from bare. Anchoring the lineup is two-way star Louis Magers, who returns for his senior campaign after a First Team All-NSIC season. In 213 ABs, Magers hit .319 with 20 HR and 81 RBI, proving himself as one of the most dangerous power threats in the region. He is joined by sophomore shortstop Jake Berkland, who is transitioning to the infield after playing left field in 2025. Berkland was a steady presence as a freshman, and in 209 ABs hit .316 with 3 HR and 38 RBI, showing the contact skills to anchor the middle of the diamond.

To bolster the lineup, the staff added impact transfers with proven collegiate success. Infielder Ethan Bowers, a senior transfer from Illinois-Springfield, brings versatility and speed to the top of the order. A First Team All-GLVC selection last year, Bowers posted a .325 average with 12 doubles, 10 home runs, and 36 RBI, alongside 23 stolen bases. Another major addition is senior outfielder Cole Yearsley, a transfer from Division I Winthrop who posted a .401 on-base percentage in 150 plate appearances last season. Yearsley brings a veteran gap-to-gap approach and is fresh off a summer where he led the Prospect League with a .416 batting average.

The Pitching Staff

The Mavericks' pitching staff was dominant in 2025, but they must navigate the loss of NSIC Pitcher of the Year Nathan Culley, who went 12-1 with a 2.52 ERA in 82 IP. Stepping into the spotlight is junior left-hander Sam George, a First Team All-NSIC selection who was nearly untouchable last spring. George posted a spotless 7-0 record with a 2.97 ERA in 60.2 IP, striking out 60 batters. He is complemented by junior right-hander Mack Crowley, a Second Team All-NSIC arm who went 8-0 with a 3.76 ERA in 38.1 IP.

Louis Magers also provides elite innings on the mound to complement his bat. In 2025, he logged a 6-0 record with a 2.72 ERA in 43 IP, holding opponents to a measly .187 batting average. To reinforce the rotation, the Mavericks added senior right-hander Brady Nelson, a transfer from rival St. Cloud State. Nelson brings a mature four-pitch arsenal and conference experience, having gone 7-1 with a 4.80 ERA over 60 innings last season for the Huskies. The bullpen depth remains a strength, with returners looking to build on a staff that accounted for 35.7% of the team's returning innings.

Schedule & Outlook

The 2026 campaign begins with an immediate test as the Mavericks travel to Joplin, Missouri, on February 13 to face Missouri Southern. The opening weekend also features a doubleheader against Indianapolis on February 14 and 15, a program that hosted a Midwest Super Regional last year and won 34 games.

Then from March 5th to March 10th, the Mavericks will play in Florida against quality opponents like Saginaw Valley State (A team who hosted a Super Regional in 2024), Seton Hill (A super regional team the last three seasons), Wilmington (a 37-win team and a regional host), and California (PA) (who set a program record last season with 38 wins), amongst others. This non-conference slate is designed to prepare them for the rigors of the NSIC, where they will look to defend their crown.

Key conference matchups include a series against newcomer Jamestown to open NSIC play beginning February 20, and a home series against Augustana starting April 15. Augustana remains a primary challenger, coming off a 39-win season and the team that Minnesota State beat to win the NSIC Tournament. The regular season concludes with a home stand against Minnesota Duluth in early May before the NSIC Tournament kicks off in Sioux Falls on May 6. With a core of proven winners and strategic veteran additions, Matt Magers has his team positioned for another deep postseason run. If you value this in-depth, non-paywalled coverage of D2 Baseball, please consider supporting our independent reporting efforts. Your contribution helps us continue providing free access to all our articles without relying on restrictive paywalls. To support our work, please visit our Patreon page: patreon.com/diviibaseball