Kinney's Arm and Bat Leads the Way for SMSU in Home Opener

Box Score

MARSHALL, MINN.: Andrew Kinney tossed a career-high six-plus innings while also collecting two hits and two RBI to lead Southwest Minnesota State to a 7-1 non-conference victory over Augustana (S.D.) in the 2008 home opener in Marshall.

The victory was SMSU's second in as many days over Augustana and now gives the Mustangs an overall record of 15-9. The Vikings drop to 5-19 overall.

Kinney earned his second start on the mound this season for SMSU and worked out of several jams in the early innings. Augustana stranded six runners on base in the first three innings and Southwest took advantage scoring single runs in the third and fourth innings.

In the third inning SMSU's Tony Rislov lead off with a single and moved to second base on a sac bunt by Derick Swenson. After a fly out for the second out, Kinney belted a run-scoring double down the right field line to snap the scoreless tie. SMSU made the score 2-0 in the fourth on a clutch two-out single by Doug Stearns that score Jake Munsch from second base.

SMSU extended the lead in the fifth inning plating two runs on three hits and one AC error. With one out, Greg Laughlin walked and then stole second base. Kinney then came through again with a single down the right field line to give SMSU a 3-0 lead. Derek West singled to put runners on first and second and Josh Nolan then followed with a single to left field to score Kinney and give SMSU a 5-0 lead.

SMSU added two unearned runs in the sixth inning taking advantage of a costly two-out error by Augustana, before closing out the scoring in the eighth inning on an RBI single by West.

Kinney moved to 1-1 on the season with the victory as he pitched into the seventh inning allowing seven singles while striking out two and walking two. Max Zwart and Derek Bjoraker each tossed a scoreless inning of relief with Matt Paulsen closing out the game allowing a run in the ninth inning.

Kinney finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBI while Rislov was 2-for-3 with a run scored. West rounded out the multi-hit games for SMSU with a 2-for-4 day. Swenson had his team-high 10-game hitting streak come to an end but did reach base with a walk in the eighth inning.

SMSU will now return to conference action this weekend with a four-game home series versus Concordia on Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 12-13. The series could be moved to Sunday-Monday if poor weather hits the Marshall area.

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