Game One Box
Game Two Box
BISMARCK, N.D.: Greg Laughlin smacked seven hits and finished with four RBI to lead Southwest Minnesota State to a doubleheader sweep over the University of Mary on Sunday in Bismarck, N.D. SMSU won the opener 9-4 and completed the sweep with a 7-4 victory in game two.
The two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victories pushes SMSU's record to 12-8 overall, 4-2 NSIC. Mary falls to 5-15 overall, 4-2 NSIC.
In game one SMSU snapped a scoreless tie scoring four runs in the top of the second inning. Derick Swenson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for the first run and moments later Laughlin belted a two-run single to make the score 3-0. Andrew Kinney capped the inning with an RBI single to give SMSU a four-run lead.
SMSU pushed the lead to 6-0 in the third on a two-run single by Swenson scoring Jake Munsch and Andy Williamson. Leading 6-1 in the fourth inning the Mustangs continued to build the lead as Lex Reinke smacked a two-run single to make the score 8-1 and then closed out the scoring in the fifth inning as Laughlin drove home a run with a single to give SMSU a 9-2 lead.
The run support was enough for starting pitcher Adam Schrader who picked up his first victory of the season tossing 4.2 innings allowing four hits, four runs while walking six and striking out three batters. Ryan Stoll closed out the game tossing 2.1 innings giving up just two hits while recording two strikeouts.
Swenson finished 2-for-4 with three RBI while Laughlin was 3-for-5 with three RBI.
In game two the Mustangs broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the fifth inning and then added three more in the sixth to build a 6-0 lead which was plenty of support for SMSU starter Jared Pick who moved to 3-0 on the season.
Clutch hitting in the fifth inning was the key as the Mustangs plated three runs with two outs. With two outs and a runner on second base Laughlin singled to shortstop to put runners on first and third. Kinney then came through with a clutch RBI double down the right field line to give SMSU a 1-0 lead. Laughlin scored on a passed ball to give a 2-0 lead before Derek West hit a run-scoring single to plate Kinney and give the Mustangs a 3-0 lead.
SMSU pushed the lead to 6-0 in the sixth on an RBI sac bunt by Swenson and a pair of RBI singles by Laughlin and West. Mary would score two runs in the bottom of the sixth but SMSU added a single run in the seventh on an RBI sac bunt by Tony Rislov.
Pick pitched 6.2 innings allowing seven hits and two earned runs. He finished the game throwing 93 pitches including 62 strikes while striking out five and walking two. Brandon Wilhelmi recorded the final out of the inning to pick up his third save of the season.
West finished game two 3-for-4 with two RBI while Laughlin tied a career-high with four hits.
The two teams will conclude the series on Monday beginning at 1 p.m.
