BOX SCORE - GAME 1

MINNEAPOLIS – Southwest Minnesota State earned a 5-1 victory over Minnesota Duluth in game one of a non-conference doubleheader on Friday at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. Game two was not completed due to time restrictions at the Metrodome. UMD led 9-1 after six and a half innings when the game was called, but NCAA rules stipulate that a game must complete seven innings of play to count as an official game.

In game one, SMSU, officially 2-1 overall, started the scoring pushing across two runs with two outs in the first inning. Andy Williamson hit a one-out double and following a strikeout by Andrew Kinney, Matt Bauer walked and Tyler Faden was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Cody Curry, playing in his first career game at SMSU, then came through with a two-run single to stake the Mustangs to an early 2-0 lead.

The Mustangs added to the lead in the third as Kinney hit a one-out triple and scored one batter later on a Bauer fly to left field that was lost in the Metrodome ceiling for a single and a 3-0 SMSU lead.

SMSU pushed across two more runs in the fourth inning as Tyler Jendro lead off with an infield single and came around to score on a ground-rule double by Adam Thygesen. Derick Swenson then doubled to the right-center field gap to score Thygesen and give SMSU a 5-0 lead and the Mustangs never looked back.

Brad Haag earned the victory tossing five-plus innings allowing one run on two hits, while striking out four and walking five. Matt Paulsen and Nate Dickhausen closed out the game with each pitching one inning.

In game two, UMD (1-2) opened up a 1-0 lead with five runs in the top of the fourth inning putting together three hits and taking advantage of three walks by SMSU pitchers.

SMSU threatened several times in the first four innings, stranding nine runners on base, including twice leaving the bases loaded. The Mustangs finished leaving 12 runners on base in six innings..

Trailing 8-0, SMSU finally broke through with its first run as Brian Ness drilled a single to left that was misplayed for an error allowing Swenson to score.

Tyler Paulsen made his first career start on the mound for SMSU after making 16 appearances out of the bullpen last season. Paulsen pitched three-plus innings allowing three hits and two walks with two strikeouts.

Southwest Minnesota State will now have 29 days off before continuing non-conference play on Mar. 7 in Winter Haven, Fla., with a doubleheader versus Concordia-St. Paul.