BOX SCORE

TUCSON, Ariz. – Southwest Minnesota State rallied for five runs in the eighth inning to earn a 6-5 non-conference victory over Concordia-St. Paul on Tuesday in Tucson, Ariz.

Tyler Flattum and Ben Kroger led an eight-hit SMSU (4-3) attack with two hits apiece, while Jeff Watson game through with a go-ahead two-run double in the decisive eighth inning.

Derek Skovbroten pitched the final three innings to pick up the win, allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts.  Jeremy Schmidt started and tossed a strong six innings, allowing one earned run on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk.

SMSU trailed 1-0 after four innings before tying the game in the fifth.  Mark Hanson led off with a bunt single and moved to second on a sac bunt by Jon Ellis.  Following a fly out, Korger reached on an infield single and on the play Hanson scored on a throwing error by the CU second baseman.

CU scored single runs in the fifth and sixth and held the two-run lead into the eighth before SMSU finally broke through on Golden Bears starter Adam Kramer.  Korger led off the inning reaching on an error and moved to second on a walk by Adam Thygesen.  Following a strikeout and fly out, Kyle Young cut the lead to 3-2 with an RBI single, before Flattum stepped up and smacked a game-tying double.  Following a pitching change, pinch-hitter Jeff Watson gave SMSU a 5-3 lead with a two-run double.  Doug Mead then followed with an RBI pinch-hit single to make the score 6-3.

Skovbroten worked a perfect eighth inning before CU nearly rallied in the ninth.  With two outs and a runner on base, CU put together a double and two-run single to trim the lead to 6-5, before Skovbroten coaxed a game ending ground out.

Southwest Minnesota State continues play tomorrow with a 3 p.m. CST game versus William Penn (Iowa).