TUCSON, Ariz. – Southwest Minnesota State snapped its seven-game winless streak on Wednesday afternoon with an 11-9 victory over Bemidji State in non-conference action in Tucson, Ariz.

SMSU was led by Jordon Kontz, who collected three hits and two RBIs, while pitching the ninth inning to record his first career save. 

SMSU (4-8-1), which finished with 15 hits, had two-hit games from Ryan Engels, Brian Ness and Kyle Young.  Despite scoring 11 runs, the Mustangs had plenty of more scoring chances in the game, finishing with seven extra-base hits, while leaving 13 runners on base.

Joe Axelson (1-1) started for SMSU on the mound and pitched six innings, allowing seven runs, four earned, on seven hits with two strikeouts and three walks.  Corby McGlauflin tossed two innings, allowing two runs, before Kontz entered in the ninth to save the game.  BSU (4-7) put runners on first and second with one out, but a pair of fly outs closed the game.

BSU opened the game's scoring with a three-run second inning, but SMSU answered in a big way in the top of the third pushing across six runs.

Ryan Engels started the rally with a single and came around to score on a triple by Jordon Kontz.  Brian Ness singled home Kontz to make it 3-2, before Kyle Young walked to put runners on first and second.  Jarred Carlson cleared the bases to with a two-run double to give SMSU the lead at 4-3.  Following a pair ground outs, Carlson came around to score on a BSU throwing error to make the score 5-3.  SMSU added another run two batters later as Ben Korger delivered a two-out RBI single to score Sam Haas.

BSU scored a pair of runs in the third and another in the fourth to tie game at 6-6, but the Mustangs answered again with another big inning in the fifth.

With one out, Jon Ellis walked and came around to score on an RBI double by Haas.  Two walks and a throwing error gave SMSU an 8-6 lead, before Kontz came through with an RBI single to make the score 9-6.  Ness closed the inning with a sac fly to push the lead to 10-6.

SMSU added an unearned run in the sixth to take an 11-6 advantage, but BSU scored a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to cut the deficit to 11-9 after seven innings. 

The Beavers threatened in the eighth, loading the bases with two outs, but McGlauflin recorded a strikeout to keep SMSU in the lead.

Ness, Haas, Carlson, Tanner Neale and Steven Kremer all had doubles for the Mustangs, while Kontz and Mason Schnaible each collected triples in the victory.

Southwest Minnesota State and Bemidji State will met again tomorrow for a nine-inning game starting at 4 p.m. CDT.  SMSU closes out its eight-game Tucson trip on Friday morning versus Dordt College (Iowa).