Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State used clutch two-out hitting and a solid pitching performance from Curtis Smith to salvage a split with Minnesota State, Mankato in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference baseball twinbill on Friday in Marshall.

MSU won the opener 6-1 behind a four-hitter from Patrick Lenton, but SMSU won game two 5-2, behind the pitching of Smith, who tossed 6.2 innings allowing just two runs.  It was SMSU's first two games in nearly two weeks and the win in game two snapped an 11-game winning streak for MSU.

SMSU is now 11-2 overall, 1-1 NSIC, while MSU is 16-10 overall, 9-1 NSIC.

In the nightcap, SMSU used three clutch two-out run-scoring hits to earn the victory.  SMSU opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as Greg Laughlin and Andrew Kinney each coaxed one out walks and both moved up one base on a wild pitch.  Following a strikeout to Matt Bauer, Derek West delivered a two-run single to give SMSU a 2-0 lead.

MSU answered with a single run in the second inning to cut the lead to 2-1.  SMSU had a chance to add to the lead in the second inning loading the bases with just one out, but a botched squeeze attempt and a ground out ended the inning.

The Mustangs then used another two-out rally in the third inning to extend the lead.  With two outs, Bauer singled to left center and moved to second on a walk by West.  Scott Rambow then followed with another walk to load the bases for Doug Stearns.  Stearns then drilled a single to left field to score Bauer and West to push the SMSU lead to 4-1.

Smith then took charge on the mound for SMSU and made some big pitches to keep SMSU a three-run lead.  MSU put runners on second and third with no outs in the fourth inning on a walk and a double.  Smith then retired the next three batters on a foul out, a strikeout and a fly out to keep the 4-1 lead.

The score remained 4-1 in favor of SMSU until the sixth inning when the Mavericks' Danny Miller belted a solo home run to trim the lead to 4-2.  The Mustangs came right back though and pushed across a solo run in the bottom half of the inning as Derick Swenson came through with an RBI single to score Stearns, who lead off the inning with a double.

Smith took to the mound in the seventh inning looking for the complete game and he nearly did as he retired the first two batters of the inning.  But a two-out walk closed the day for Smith and summoned Tyler Paulson into the game for SMSU.  The junior right-hander closed out the game with a fly out to earn his first save as a Mustang.

Smith moved to 3-0 with the win scattering seven hits and allowing two runs, while striking out three and walking three.  Stearns led an eight-hit SMSU attack with two hits and two RBI.

In game one, Lenton tossed a four-hitter allowing just one run while striking out eight.  Adam Schrader suffered the loss for SMSU pitching 5.2 innings allowing three earned runs.  

Bauer led the Mustang offense with two hits including belting a solo home run in the seventh inning.

The two teams will conclude the series tomorrow, weather permitting, with a doubleheader in Mankato starting at 1:30 p.m.