Game One Box
Game Two Box

CROOKSTON, MINN.: Southwest Minnesota State collected 31 runs on 28 hits to earn a doubleheader sweep over the University of Minnesota, Crookston on Saturday in Crookston.  SMSU won the opener 9-5 before cruising to a 22-4 victory in game two.

SMSU has now won three straight games and needs one more victory to clinch a spot in the upcoming NSIC tournament.  SMSU is now 22-18 overall, 12-12 NSIC, while UMC falls to 3-34 overall, 1-29 NSIC.

In the opener the Mustangs struck early and often in building a 5-0 lead after two innings of play.  In the first inning Derick Swenson lead off with a double and came around to score on an RBI single by Andrew Kinney.  SMSU added to the lead in the second scoring four runs on two hits and one UMC error.  Greg Laughlin and Kinney produced run-scoring singles in the inning while Lex Reinke drove in another run with a fielder's choice.

SMSU extended the lead to 8-0 with a three-run on an RBI single by Jake Munsch and sacrifice fly by Derek West and an RBI ground out by Doug Stearns.

The Golden Eagles cut into the lead with four runs on four hits in the fifth inning before Kinney answered back with a solo home run in the sixth to give SMSU a 9-4 lead.  UMC loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh but scored just one run as the Mustangs held onto the five-run victory.

Adam Schrader earned the victory for SMSU pitching four-plus innings allowing four runs on six hits with one strikeout. 

Kinney paced the SMSU offense going 4-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. 

In game two SMSU scored four unearned runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back in scoring a season-high 22 runs.  With two outs and runners on second and third, Reinke hit a pop up to shallow right field that was dropped by the second baseman allowing two runs to score.  Stearns then came through two batters later with a two-run single to stake SMSU starter Jared Pick to a 4-0 lead.

SMSU put the game away in the second inning score eight runs on eight hits, including seven straight, in building a 12-0 lead. 

The support was plenty for Pick who tossed four innings allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out five and walking three.  Tony Shaikoski, Max Zwart and Jason Scheffler each tossed one scoreless inning to close up the victory.

The Mustang offense banged out 18 hits in the game led by West, Stearns and Kinney who all racked three hits apiece.  Kinney had three RBI and three runs scored while also drilling his team-high seventh home run of the season.  Scott Rambow also scored three runs and finished with three RBI.

The two teams will conclude the four-game series tomorrow starting at 12 p.m. at Karn Field in Crookston.