BOX SCORE - GAME 1
BOX SCORE - GAME 2

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Jared Pick tossed six innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, while striking out five to lead Southwest Minnesota State to a 5-2 victory over Minnesota Duluth in game two of a non-conference doubleheader at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

It was the season opening doubleheader for both squads. Minnesota Duluth won the opener 7-2.

In game two, SMSU (1-1) jumped on the board in the bottom of the first scoring three runs on four hits to take an early lead. Derick Swenson lead off with an infield single and moved to second on a throwing error. Following a strikeout, Andrew Kinney and Matt Bauer each smacked RBI doubles to give SMSU a 2-0 lead. Tyler Fayden then delivered a run-scoring single to score Bauer from second and push the SMSU lead to 3-0.

UMD (1-1) scored a single run in the top of the third, but SMSU answered right back in the bottom half of the inning as Kinney belted his first home run of the season, landing just below the football press box in right-center field to push the lead to 4-1. The home run was the 34th of his career, tying Travis Irwin for second all-time at SMSU. Colby Pack is the career leader with 42.

UMD scored an unearned run in the fifth, but again SMSU had an answer as drilled a one-out double and two batters later Fayden came through with a clutch two-out double to push the lead to 5-2.

Pick tossed a perfect sixth inning, before giving way to Nate Dickhausen, who closed the game for his first career save.

Kinney finished 3 for 3 in game two with two RBIs and scored three runs, while Fayden also collected three hits and two RBIs.

In the opener, SMSU opened the scoring in the first inning as Derick Swenson led off the season with a double to right-center field and following a ground out and a fly out, came around to score on a two-out double by Matt Bauer.

UMD responded in the bottom of the first with a single, walk and single to tie the game at 1-1. UMD had a chance to put together a big inning loading the bases with no outs, but Mustang starter Adam Schrader coaxed a shallow fly out and an inning-ending double play to keep the game tied.

UMD then took its first lead of the game in the second inning plating four runs, including two unearned on four hits and one SMSU error.

The Mustangs cut into the lead in the top of the fourth as Andrew Kinney and Bauer started the inning with back-to-back singles and Tyler Fayden followed by getting hit by a pitch to lead the bases with no outs. But moments later Brian Ness hit into a 3-2-3 double play to put runners and second and third with two outs. Tyler Jendro then came through with an infield single to score Bauer and cut the UMD lead to 5-2. Following a stolen base by Jendro, putting runners on second and third, the inning ended when Adam Thygesen grounded out.

The Bulldogs then added two more runs in the fifth inning as Orry Engebretsen smacked a two-out, two-run double off of SMSU reliever Corby McLaughlin to push the UMD lead to 7-2.

Bauer led the SMSU offense in game one with three hits, one run scored and one RBI.

Schrader suffered the loss for SMSU tossing four innings, allowing five runs, three earned on six hits, while striking out four and walking three. Schrader now has 186 strikeouts in his career and is four shy of tying Pat O'Brien for third all-time in school history.

The two teams will conclude the four-game series on Friday morning with a doubleheader starting at 9 a.m.