Southwest Minnesota State University Athletics

MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State University baseball team began official practice last week in the PE Gym in preparation of the 2010 season.  The Mustangs will conduct nearly four weeks of team practice sessions before opening the season on Feb. 4-5 with a four-game non-conference series at Mall of America Field at the Metrodome in Minneapolis versus Minnesota-Duluth.

Paul Blanchard, who begins his 14th season as the Mustang head coach, has 39 players on this season’s roster including 16 letterwinners from last season’s team that finished 28-15 overall and advanced to the program’s first ever NCAA tournament.  Blanchard, the program’s all-time winningest coach, has guided SMSU to a 350-245-1 record during his 13-year tenure.

The Mustang offense returns its top two power hitters from a season ago with senior third baseman Matt Bauer (Tracy, Minn.) and senior first baseman and 2009 team most valuable player Andrew Kinney (Coon Rapids, Minn.).  Bauer, a first team preseason All-America honoree by the National College Baseball Writers Association in December, batted .397 with 14 home runs, 14 doubles and 54 RBIs last season.  Bauer finished the 2009 season ranking 21st in the country in home runs per game, 32nd in RBIs per game and 51st in home runs.  Kinney, a third team preseason All-America, is the team’s top returning hitter after finishing with a .408 average a season ago, while leading the team in home runs (17), RBIs (55) and slugging percentage (.803).  Kinney ranked 10th in the nation in home runs per game, 13th in slugging percentage, 21st in total home runs and 32nd in RBIs per game.

Another returning starter is senior center fielder Derick Swenson (Alexandria, Minn.), who batted .352 with 11 doubles, seven home runs and a team-high 10 stolen bases.  Junior catcher Andy Williamson (Fairmont, Minn.) also returns after playing in 22 games in 2009 and batting .350 with six doubles.  

On the mound SMSU returns several veterans that will anchor the pitching staff, including senior right-hander Adam Schrader (Easton, Minn.).  Schrader, named the team’s most valuable pitcher and a second team all-region honoree in 2009, led in innings pitched (60.1), complete games (3) and strikeouts (67).  Schrader finished 5-1 last season with a 3.88 earned run average in 11 appearances, including 10 starts.  He begins the 2010 season ranking fourth in school history in strikeouts (182), seventh in games started (36) and ninth in innings pitched (188.2).

Also returning is senior left-hander Jared Pick (Luverne, Minn.), who finished 5-1 with a 5.75 ERA in 40.2 innings and ranked fourth last season with six starts.  Another returning starting pitcher is senior right-hander Brad Haag (St. Joseph, Minn.), who made eight starts a season ago recording a 1-3 record in 39.1 innings.  Senior right-hander Tyler Paulson (West Concord, Minn.) is expected to be added to the starting rotation this season after serving as the team’s closer in 2009.  Paulson appeared in a team-high 16 games last year finishing 2-3 with five saves and 18 strikeouts in 19 innings.

Several other pitchers return and could see time as both a starter and reliever this spring.  Sophomore lefty Chris Koep (Alexandria, Minn.) appeared in seven games with four starts a season ago, while sophomore Nate Dickhausen (Winsted, Minn.) appeared in eight games finishing with a 2-0 record.  Senior right-hander Nick Locnikar (Albany, Minn.) and junior right-handers Matt Paulsen (Pipestone, Minn.) and Andy Williamson (Fairmont, Minn.) combined to appear in 13 games last season and will see time again in 2010.  Sophomore left-hander Aaron Johnson (Red Wing, Minn.), who missed last season with an injury, returns this season and is expected to see time on the mound.  Johnson made 10 starts as a true freshman in 2008, tossing 44 innings with 29 strikeouts.

Following the season opening series at the Metrodome, SMSU will continue its 50-game schedule on Mar. 7-13 with 10 games at the RussMatt Invitational in Winter Haven, Fla.  It will be the first time since 1997 that SMSU will not compete at the Gene Cusic Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla. 

SMSU will open its 22-game home schedule on Mar. 23 versus Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) and will begin the 36-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference season on Mar. 27-28 with a home four-game series versus Northern State.  One major change in conference play this season will be each league doubleheader will feature one 9-inning game and one 7-inning game.  The top six teams in the final regular season standings will advance to the NSIC tournament in St. Cloud, Minn., on May 6-9.