GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. – Tyler Flattum drilled a one-out double down the left field line in the bottom of the 16th inning to lift Southwest Minnesota State to a 3-2 victory over Upper Iowa in the longest game in SMSU history.

The victory salvaged at least one win for SMSU this weekend as UIU won the opener on Monday 8-5 and won three of four this weekend. SMSU is 9-14 overall, 5-7 NSIC, while UIU is now 17-16 overall, 11-9 NSIC.

Game two was the fifth extra-inning game this season for SMSU and surpasses its previous longest game of 15 innings versus Northwood (Mich.) on March 7.

SMSU received outstanding pitching in the nightcap as starting pitcher Nate Dickhausen tossed the first 11.2 innings, allowing only an unearned run, while walking one and striking out seven. The right-hander tossed 144 pitches in the game, with an amazing 111 for strikes.

Ben Bartling, the second of two relievers used by SMSU, earned the victory pitching the final 2.2 innings, allowing just one hit and one walk, while striking out six.

UIU scored the game's first run on a sac fly in the third inning. The runner that scored reached base after a throwing error by Dickhausen.

SMSU quickly tied the game in the home half of the fourth inning as Tyler Fayden laced a triple to left centerfield. Following a strikeout, Cody Curry tied the game on a sac fly.

The two teams then went scoreless for the next eight innings with both squads having chances to score. The Mustangs left the bases loaded in the seventh and left two runners on in the ninth.

UIU finally scored in the 13th inning, but missed a chance to add to the lead. The Peacocks scored on a balk by SMSU pitcher Landon Gacke to take a 2-1 lead and later loaded the bases with one out, but a line out double play ended the inning and kept the deficit to one run for SMSU.

In the SMSU half of the inning, the Mustangs were down to their last out with a runner at first, but Josh Wendland singled to keep the inning alive and Tyler Jendro followed with a run-scoring single to score Jordan Kontz and tie the game at 2. SMSU loaded the bases in the inning by Brian Ness flied out to end the threat.

UIU nearly took the lead in the 14th, putting runners on second and third with one out, but Bartling entered the game and struck out both batters he faced to keep the game tied.

SMSU put the lead off batter on the 15th, but failed to score, but Bartling retired UIU in order in the 16th to give SMSU a chance at the victory.

In the game-winning frame, Adam Thygesen led off with a single and moved to second on a line drive single by Ness. Fayden hit into a fielder's choice for the first out keeping runners on first and second. Flattum then stepped to the plate and drilled a 1-2 pitch down the line for the game-winning hit.

Thygesen, Fayden, Tyler Brinka and Jendro all finished with two hits to pace a 12-hit Mustang attack.

The two teams combined to leave 35 runners on base in game two.

In the opener, as was the case in UIU's two victories on Sunday, the sixth inning proved to be the difference again. For the third straight game, UIU rallied from a deficit to retake the lead for good with a big sixth inning rally.

Thygesen gave SMSU a 5-4 lead with a two-out, two-run single in the fifth, but the Peacocks came back in the sixth inning to take the lead and never looked back.

SMSU started the game strong scoring three runs in the first inning. An error by the UIU catcher on a double steal gave SMSU a 1-0 lead, before Flattum drilled a two-run double to right center to push the lead to 3-0.

UIU answered with two runs in the second and then added two more runs in the fourth off of SMSU starter Chris Koep to build a 4-3 lead.

In the fifth, a Flattum single and walks to Chris Eichten and Doug Mead put runners loaded the bases with two outs before Thygesen came through with a two-run single on a 1-2 pitch to give SMSU the lead.

Luis Rodriguez gave UIU the lead for good with a bases clearing double to put UIU ahead 7-4, before later scoring on a ground out.

Steven Wehr took the loss for SMSU and drops to 0-1. The right-hander pitched three innings and allowed four runs on six hits. Koep pitched the first three-plus innings and gave up four runs on four hits and four walks.

Flattum finished 3 for 4 with two RBIs and one run score to pace SMSU.

SMSU will continue conference play on Wednesday afternoon at Northern State. The game is scheduled for Aberdeen, but field conditions may force the game to be moved to another location.