GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State rallied from a 4-0 sixth-inning deficit to earn a 5-4 victory over Concordia-St. Paul in game one and then used a six-run first inning to earn 15-4 victory in game two of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader in St. Paul.  The two teams split the four-game series.

With the two victories, SMSU is 16-9 overall, 6-4 NSIC, while CU is now 16-10 overall, 8-6 NSIC. 

In the opener, SMSU scored a pair of unearned runs in the sixth and then pushed across three runs in the seventh to rally for the win.  The game featured a three-hour rain delay in the bottom of the first inning.

Alex Alvarez (2-1) was outstanding in relief for SMSU and picked up the victory tossing 5.1 shutout innings, allowing four hits and one walk with three strikeouts.  Dylan Shoemaker recorded the final two outs for his second save of the season.

Jordon Kontz led a six-hit SMSU attack with three hits and an RBI, while Ben Korger had a hit and scored two runs.

Concordia scored four first inning runs and held the four-run lead until the sixth inning when SMSU was able to take advantage of a CU miscue.  With one out, Korger and Kontz singled and both moved up on a ground out.  Following a walk to Brian Ness, Kyle Young hit a grounder to second base that was misplayed allowing Korger to score.  Kontz then sprinted across the plate moments later on a wild pitch to cut the lead to 4-2.

Alvarez stranded two CU runners in the sixth inning to keep the score 4-2, and give SMSU a chance to rally.

Chris Eichten led off with a long single to right field and scored one batter later on an RBI pinch-hit double by Tyler Flattum. A ground out by Steven Kramer moved Flattum to third with one out.  Korger was then hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners.  Kontz then laid down a perfect bunt single to score Flattum and tie the game with Korger moving all the way to third.  Kontz was then picked off first, but in the run-down, Korger sprinted home to score the go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the seventh, Alvarez retired the first batter, before allowing a double and an intentional walk.  Shoemaker entered the game and promptly picked off the runner at second base and then coaxed a ground out to seal the victory.

Bryce Rippentrop started for SMSU and lasted just one inning, allowing four runs on two hits with four walks. 

In game two, SMSU banged out a season-high 18 hits, including seven extra-base hits.  Kontz finished 3 for 3 with a career-high four RBIs and two runs scored, while Ness added two hits and four RBIs.  Eichten had three hits and three runs scored, with Korger, Flattum, Hanson and Brandan Alfson all collecting two hits apiece.

Jeremy Schmidt (1-0) earned his first victory in five starts with six strong innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and just one walk.

SMSU exploded for six first inning runs and never looked back in completing the sweep.  Korger doubled to start the game and was followed by a Kontz single.  Ness then stepped up and drilled a three-run homer to right field to give the Mustangs a 3-0 lead.  Eichten and Hanson added RBI singles in the inning, while the sixth run scored on a Alfson fielder's choice.

The Golden Bears scored two runs in the first to cut the deficit to 6-2, but Kontz smacked a two-run double in the third to extend the margin to 8-2. 

SMSU held an 8-3 lead before putting the game away with a five-run fourth inning.  With one out and runners on first and second, Hanson delivered an RBI double.  Following a ground out, Korger reached on an infield single to score another run and make the score 10-3.  Kontz then tripled into right center to plate two more runs and then scored later in the inning on an RBI single by Ness to make the score 13-3.

CU scored a run in the sixth, before SMSU added two more runs in the seventh on a two-run double by Flattum.

Landon Gacke pitched a scoreless seventh with two strikeouts to end the game via 10-run rule.

Southwest Minnesota State, after playing its first 25 games away from home, will have its first games of the season at Alumni Field on Wednesday, taking on Augustana in an NSIC doubleheader starting at 1:30 p.m.