UNO won the final North Central Conference championship, defeating Minnesota State-Mankato 17-0 Sunday afternoon at Boys Town.

The Mavericks (42-11) earned an automatic berth in the NCAA II Tournament which opens Thursday. The seedings for the regional tournament will be announced Sunday night.

The championship is UNO's fourth and first since 2005.

Evan Porter got things going in the first inning with a three-run homer. The Mavericks exploded for 10 runs in the second inning. Dustin Koca knocked another three-run home run.

After UNO loaded the bases, Bryan Frew walked to force in another run and Chris Weimer hit a grand slam, his 18th home run of the year. Koca capped the barrage with his second homer of the inning, his 12th of the year. Koca finished 5-for-6 with four RBIs.

Porter belted his second home run of the game in the fifth, his 15th of the season. Mat Eikmeier added a solo shot, his fifth of the year.

MSU (27-23), winner of the last two NCC championships, had no answer for UNO starter Tim Huber, who went seven innings, allowing three hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.