MINNEAPOLIS - The Southwest Minnesota State Mustang baseball team began the 2013 season with a split versus Upper Iowa in the Metrodome on Thursday. Upper Iowa took the first contest 6-4, while the Mustangs rebounded with a 7-2 win in eight innings in game two.

Brian Ness led the way for the Mustangs, going 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Elliot Serbus (1 for 3) and Steven Kremer (1 for 1) each had an RBI in the loss. Joe Axelson (0-1) made the start for the Mustangs, suffering the loss while pitching four innings and striking out two. Eric Anderson (1-0) pitched 5.1 innings for Upper Iowa, striking out seven Mustangs while receiving the win.

Upper Iowa jumped out on top in the first half of the third with a three-run inning sparked by a leadoff walk and a hit-by-pitch. The Peacocks added a run in the fourth on an RBI single by William Loza and a run in the fifth on a sac-fly by Jose Aguirre.

SMSU would get on the board with a four-run sixth inning started by a Jordan Kontz single. Elliott Serbus recorded an RBI double but Serbus was thrown out at third trying to stretch the hit into a triple. Down 5-3, Steven Kramer had a pinch-hit groundrule double to score Kyle Young to cut the Peacock lead to one.

The Peacocks added an insurance run in the top half of the seventh when Ryan Citro smashed a groundrule double to left field. The Peacocks didn't need the run as the Mustangs were retired 1-2-3 in the last of the seventh.

In game two, SMSU jumped out to a 2-0 lead when Ben Korger scored on a throwing error on a pick-off attempt which was followed by a Jon Ellis RBI that scored Jordan Kontz.

Steven Wehr was solid in his 2013 debut, throwing 76 pitches over five scoreless innings while striking out five Peacocks.

In the sixth, Corby McGlaughlin relieved Dylan Shoemaker and induced a 6-4-3 double play to escape the jam and conserve the 2-0 lead.

SMSU was unable to add an insurance run in the top half of the seventh after Brian Ness walked and Nick Tillo singled to right to lead the inning off. Two strikeouts and a fielder's choice ended the SMSU threat.

In its last chance in the bottom of the seventh trailing 2-0, Upper Iowa tied the game with a bloop single to left field with two outs and the bases loaded.

SMSU busted the game in the extra frame, scoring five runs on two hits and an Upper Iowa error. After a fly out by Brandan Alfson, Ben Korger tripled to right. Korger scored when Jarred Carlson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The very next batter, Kyle Young singled to center, scoring Brian Ness, while a throwing error on the play by William Loza allowed Carlson and Young all to come around and score to push the lead to 7-2.

Brandan Alfson fired a scoreless eighth inning to seal SMSU's first win of the 2013 season.

Ben Korger went 2 of 4 with two runs scored, while Kyle Young also finished 2 for 4, finishing with one run scored and one RBI. Jordan Kontz picked up the victory for SMSU, while Tanner Funke suffered the loss for UIU. Kontz (1-0) pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing one hit with two strikeouts on 14 pitches.

SMSU will return to the Metrodome on Sunday to take on the University of Mary at 6 a.m.