GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. - Conference leading Minnesota State, Mankato pushed across a run in the 10th inning of game two to earn a 2-1 victory and complete a doubleheader sweep over Southwest Minnesota State on a windy afternoon in Marshall. The two teams dealt with a stiff wind blowing in from centerfield at 25-30 mph.

MSU (31-8, 23-3 NSIC), ranked No. 2 in this week's NCAA region rankings and ranked No. 11 in one national poll, won the opener 11-4. The two victories pushes MSU's winning streak to 19 straight games. SMSU drops to 9-19 overall, 5-12 NSIC.  The second game was SMSU's sixth extra-inning contest this season.

In game two, SMSU's Ben Bartling and MSU's Luke Putz, pitched outstanding, both pitching into the 10th inning after allowed first inning runs.

In the 10th, MSU's Jeremy Sudbeck led off with a single, ending Bartling's day on the mound for the Mustangs. Derek Skovbroten came in relief for SMSU and picked up an out as Sudbeck was thrown out trying to steal second by SMSU's Tyler Brinka. MSU came right back with a single and walk to put runners on first and second, before Aaron Berner singled to left field to score the go-ahead run, just beating the throw by SMSU left-fielder Jordon Kontz.

In the bottom of the 10th, Brian Ness coaxed a five-pitch walk to put the tying run on base and ending the day for Putz. Kontz moved pinch-runner Ben Korger to second base on a sac bunt, but relief pitcher Mahlon Zimmerman picked off Korger at second to end the threat. Zimmerman then ended the game with a fly out off the bat of Tyler Flattum.

Putz earned the win for MSU, tossing nine-plus innings, allowing just four hits and one unearned run with five strikeouts and two walks. The right-hander finished the game tossing just 90 pitches, including 65 for strikes and improves to 5-1 on the season, while Zimmerman notched his eighth save of the season.

MSU scored the game's first run on a two-out RBI single by Danny Miller.

SMSU answered in the home half of the inning as Mark Hanson reached on an infield single and moved to second on a throwing error. Following a wild pitch, Tyler Fayden scored Hanson with a ground out to tie the game at 1.

The Mustangs picked up two hits in the second inning, but a double play ended a scoring threat, before recording another hit in the fourth inning, but that was it for the SMSU offense. Putz allowed just two SMSU runners to reach base, both via bases on balls, from the fifth inning into the 10th inning.

Bartling picked up a no-decision for SMSU, allowing nine hits and one run, while recording three strikeouts and five walks.

In game one, MSU snapped a 2-all tie with two runs in the fourth and then put the game away with a five-run fifth inning to cruise to the victory.

Flattum gave SMSU an early 1-0 lead on a sharp RBI single to right field to score Fayden.

MSU scored single runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-1 lead, before SMSU rallied to the game in the third inning. Infield singles by Kontz and Fayden opened the inning, before Ness flied out for the first out. Kontz and Fayden then attempted a double steal and the catcher's throw to third sailed into the left field to score Kontz and allow Fayden to reach third. SMSU failed to take the lead as Flattum and Cody Curry both grounded to end the inning.

Trailing 9-2, SMSU scored two runs in the fifth inning as Ness drilled a two-run single to right field scoring Chris Eichten and Kontz.

Nate Dickhausen started and suffered the loss lasting 4.2 innings, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits and is now 1-2.

SMSU finished with nine hits, with Fayden, Ness and Josh Wendland all finishing with two hits.

The two teams will conclude the home-and-home four-game series on Sunday with a 1:30 p.m. doubleheader in Mankato.