GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX

SIOUX CITY, IOWA –  Minnesota State used the long ball - hitting a combined nine home runs - to earn two victories and complete a four-game sweep over Southwest Minnesota State on Monday.  The Mavericks won the opener 32-11 and then earned a 9-7 victory in game two.  MSU won 15-3 and 2-0 on Sunday. 

All four games of the series were played at North High School in Sioux City, Iowa, due to weather and field conditions in Marshall and Mankato. 

In game two this afternoon, SMSU struck first in the bottom of the first inning on a RBI double by Steven Kremer that scored Brian Ness.  MSU tied it in the top of second, but SMSU regained the lead on a double by Tanner Neale and an RBI single by Ryan Engels. 

The Mavericks answered back in the big way in the top of third scoring five runs to build a 6-2 lead.  The score remained 6-2 until the fifth when SMSU's Jarred Carlson belted a three-run home run to cut the deficit to 6-5.

MSU added to the lead with an unearned run in the sixth and a solo homer in the eight to build an 8-5 lead. 

SMSU cut into the lead in the home half of the eighth on an RBI single by Ness, scoring Engels, to make the score 8-6.  SMSU would later load the bases with one out, but a foul out and fly out ended the inning.

In the ninth, SMSU started a rally with back-to-back walks, but a pair of strikeouts brought SMSU to their final out.  Jon Ellis slapped an RBI single to make it 9-7, but Ness fouled out to end the game leaving the tying run on base.

SMSU ended the game with 12 hits, as Ellis, Kyle Young, Jason Minett and Kremer all collected two hits apiece.

Steven Wehr (0-3) started and pitched five-plus innings for the Mustangs, giving up 10 hits, seven runs, five earned, with three walks and two strikeouts, while also hitting four MSU batters.

In the opener, MSU scored eight first inning runs and never looked back in earning the victory.  The 32 runs allowed by SMSU is a school record, breaking the previous mark of 28 set by Wayne State in 2009.

MSU's Jon Flattery had a huge game finishing 4 for 6 with three home runs, 10 RBIs and five runs scored, while Todd Standish added three hits, including two home runs and five RBIs.  The Mavericks belted six home runs in the game and finished with 24 hits.

SMSU had for players with multi-hit games with Kyle Young leading the way going 3 for 4 with three RBIs.  Jason Minett added two hits, three RBIs and two runs scored, while Jon Ellis and Brian Ness each finished with two hits.

Joe Axelson (2-3) started for SMSU, but lasted just 1 2/3 innings.

Southwest Minnesota State remains in the Sioux City tomorrow afternoon for another NSIC doubleheader versus the University of Sioux Falls (10-18, 5-9 NSIC) with first pitch set for 12 p.m.