Box Score

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The Southwest Minnesota State baseball continues its winning ways on Tuesday morning with a 6-3 victory over NCAA Division III Carthage College (Wis.) in Port Charlotte, Fla.  Carthage, which finished 36-10 last season, is ranked No. 28 in Division III.

Mustang pitcher Derek Bjoraker tossed 5.1 innings to earn the victory, while Mark Bendzick tossed 3.2 shutout innings to collect the save.  The two Mustang pitchers allowed just three hits in the game and struck out seven batters.

Bjoraker battled some wildness in the game, walking eight batters, but struck out six and allowed just two hits in earning his first victory since March 14, 2007.  It was also the first career save for Bendzick.

SMSU jumped out to an early lead as Doug Mead lead off the game with a double and came around to score one batter later on a Greg Laughlin single and on the same play, the Carthage right fielder made two errors allowing both Mead and Laughlin to score.  SMSU capped off the inning with one more run as Jake Munsch singled home Matt Bauer. 

Carthage scored two runs in the bottom of the first and then tied the game in the third inning before SMSU regained the lead in the sixth inning.  With one out, Scott Rambow doubled and came around to score on a single by Bobby Zellman to make it 4-3 in favor of SMSU.  The Redman loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, but Bendzick was able to end the threat with a fly out.

The score remained 4-3 until the ninth when the Mustangs picked up two critical insurance runs.  Adam Thygesen lead off the inning with a walk and then stole second.  Following an infield single by Mead, but runners on first and second, Laughlin hit into a double play as Mead was called for an illegal slide.  With two outs, Andrew Kinney came through with a clutch single to score Thygesen and after a stolen base came around to score on an RBI single by Matt Bauer.

Bendzick then retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to notch the save.

SMSU racked up 11 hits in the contest with Mead, Rambow and Munsch all finishing with two hits apiece.

SMSU will look to continue its winning streak on Wednesday, March 18, with a doubleheader versus Minnesota Duluth at 10 a.m. EDT in Ft. Myers, Fla.