Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box
FAYETTE, Iowa – Southwest Minnesota State picked up a 7-5 victory in game two of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader on Sunday versus Upper Iowa to salvage a split of a doubleheader and the four-game weekend series. UIU won game one by a 6-3 score.
The splits gives SMSU a 19-6 overall record, 9-5 NSIC, while UIU is now 17-20 overall, 11-9 NSIC. SMSU currently is in fourth place in the NSIC standings, while UIU is in sixth place.
In game one, UIU's Lucas Wilsing struck out 10 SMSU batters and scattered eights hits in the victory in earning his third straight complete game victory.
SMSU left 11 runners on base in the game.
Upper Iowa scored three first inning runs off of SMSU starter Chris Keop to take an early lead. SMSU answered with two runs in the top of the second on an RBI single by Derick Swenson scoring Jake Munsch who lead off the inning with a double. SMSU cut the UIU lead to 3-2 one batter later as Greg Laughlin walked with the bases loaded to score Andy Williamson. SMSU left the bases loaded though, as Andrew Kinney struck out to end the threat.
Upper Iowa then came right back and picked up two more runs in the bottom of the second and added a single run in the fourth to build a 6-2 lead.
SMSU scored its final run of the game in the sixth inning as it loaded the bases with two outs, but could only score one as Matt Seehusen scored on a wild pitch.
Swenson led SMSU in the game going 3 for 4 with an RBI, while Jake Munsch and Josh Nolan each added doubles.
Koep suffered the loss pitching 4.2 innings allowing six earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
In the nightcap, SMSU loaded the bases in the top of the first inning but failed to score and UIU took advantage putting together a two-out rally to score two runs off of SMSU starter Curtis Smith.
SMSU came right back to tie the game in the second inning as Doug Stearns, who finished the game 3 for 3, led off the inning with single and moved to second on a single by Josh Nolan. A walk to Jake Munsch loaded the bases before Derick Swenson hit into a double play to score SMSU's first run. Nolan then scored the tying run crossing the plate on a UIU passed ball.
SMSU took the lead for good in the third inning as Andrew Kinney doubled to lead off the frame and moved to third two batters later on a single by Derek West. After a fly out advanced West to second base, Stearns came through with a clutch two-out single to left field to score both Kinney and West and give SMSU a 4-2 lead.
Swenson extended the lead with a solo home run with two outs in the fourth, his fourth of the season, to give the Mustangs a 5-2 lead. After Upper Iowa scored a single run in the bottom of the fourth, SMSU picked up another run in the fifth on a sac fly by Nolan that scored West, who led off the inning with a walk.
The score remained 6-3 in favor of SMSU until the seventh when the Mustangs pushed across an important insurance run. With one out, Matt Seehusen smacked a pinch-hit single and moments later scored when Stearns' single to center field was misplayed for an error allowing Seehusen to score from first base and push the lead to 7-3.
Upper Iowa put together a threat in the seventh scoring two runs and ending the game with the tying run at the plate. SMSU reliever Max Zwart walked the lead off hitter and was replaced by Adam Schrader, making his first relief appearance of the season. Schrader allowed two singles that scored two runs, but he was able to finish the game and preserve the Mustang victory.
Kinney finished the game 4 for 4 with a run scored, while Stearns finished with three hits and two RBI. It was Kinney's second four-hit game of the season, while it's the second three-hit game of the season for Stearns.
Smith improved to 5-0 on the season pitching four innings allowing seven hits, three runs, three walks and striking out one while tossing 92 pitches. Mark Bendzick, Aaron Rocheleau and Zwart combined to toss two innings of relief allowing two hits and one run.
Southwest Minnesota State will return to action on Wednesday, April 22, with a conference doubleheader at Winona State starting at 2 p.m.
