THIS WEEK - The Southwest Minnesota State University baseball team (5-9-1, 0-0 NSIC) is scheduled to open Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this Friday and Saturday with a four-game series at Augustana College (10-9, 0-0 NSIC) in Sioux Falls, S.D.  Doubleheaders on both Friday and Saturday are scheduled to start at 12 p.m.  Saturday's doubleheader was orginally set to be played in Marshall, but field conditions in Marshall forced the two games to be moved to Sioux Falls.

SMSU was scheduled to open conference play last weekend at Wayne State, but all four games were canceled due to poor weather and poor field conditions.  SMSU last played on March 15, defeating Dordt College in Tucson, Ariz.

SERIES HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota State leads the all-time series versus Augustana 43-36 in a series that started in 1980.  SMSU is 14-9 versus Augustana since the start of the 2004 season.   The teams split four games last season, with SMSU winning two non-conference games at the Metrodome, while Augustana swept two NSIC games in Marshall.

LEAD OFF NOTES -
•Sophomore Jon Ellis' walk-off hit versus Concordia-St. Paul on Feb. 27 was SMSU's first since Tyler Flattum's walk-off double beat Upper Iowa on April 18, 2011.
•Ellis has reached base in 10 straight games.
•Senior Brian Ness has a current six-game hitting streak.
•Junior Jordon Kontz had a team-high eight-game hitting streak snapped on March 14 versus Bemidji State.
•Senior Kyle Young leads the team with 19 hits and has a team-high .388 average
•Young leads the team with seven multi-hit games this season.
•Junior Jarred Carlson is batting .361 with a team-high 15 RBIs.
•Junior Ryan Ecalbarger and sophomore Eric Giddings lead the team with seven appearances on the mound.
•Freshman Sam Haas and Ness have each hit one home run.
•SMSU has been outscored 17-5 in the first inning.
•For career statistics and individual career-highs go to SMSUmustangs.com/baseballcareer

>SMSU Release