SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -  Southwest Minnesota State broke open a close game with a 14-run sixth inning and went on to earn a 19-4 victory over Minnesota Duluth and earn a split of a doubleheader on Sunday in Sioux Falls. 

UMD (4-18, 4-4 NSIC) rallied to win the opener on 5-4.  The two teams split the four-game weekend series, which was originally scheduled for Marshall, but was moved due to poor field conditions.

In the opener, UMD scored an unearned run in the first to take an early lead, but SMSU (9-15-1, 4-6 NSIC) rallied in the second.  Steven Kremer started the rally with a one out walk and moved to second after Ryan Engels was hit by a pitch.  A single by Ben Korger loaded the bases, before Jon Ellis drilled a grand slam over the right field wall to give SMSU a 4-1 lead.  It's the first grand slam for SMSU since Matt Bauer on March 28, 2010. 

UMD scored another unearned run in the third to cut the lead to 4-2 and it remained a two-run SMSU lead until the sixth.  SMSU had chances to add to the lead, but left two runners on base in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

The Bulldogs took advantage in the sixth inning tying the game on two hits and an unlucky SMSU bounce to make the score 4-4.  With runners on first and second and two outs, UMD batter Orry Engebretsen hit a single deep in the hole at short and with the runner at second attempting to score, the throw from shortstop Korger bounced away from catcher Jordon Kontz and rolled into the dugout allowing the runner from first to come all the way around to score and tie the game. 

SMSU put the leadoff batter on in the sixth, but following a sac bunt the inning ended with a strikeout and ground out.

UMD pushed across the game-winning run in the seventh with a one-out double, a single and a sac fly off of SMSU relief pitcher Corby McGlauflin (0-1). 

SMSU starter Brandan Alfson tossed a career-high six innings, allowing four runs, one earned, on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

Brian Ness led SMSU's six-hit attack in game one with two hits.

In game two, SMSU's Jarred Carlson smacked a solo homer over the right-center field fence to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead after two innings.  UMD tied it in the top of the third, but SMSU quickly regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning on a two-out RBI double by Tanner Neale to score Ryan Engels.

SMSU added to the lead in the fifth inning, taking advantage of a two-out UMD error.  Neale reached on the error and one batter later Ness drilled a two-run homer to push the lead to 4-1.  SMSU wasn't finished in the inning as a single by Kyle Young and walk to Carlson put runners on first and second before Josh Hanson delivered a run-scoring single to give SMSU a 5-1 advantage. 

UMD trimmed the lead to 5-4 with a three-run homer by Kyle Comer in the sixth, but SMSU quickly responded in the bottom of the inning to blow the game open.  Ellis opened the inning with a single and came around to score on a double by Elliott Serbus.  Following a pair of strikeouts, Neale drilled an RBI single to score Serbus and moved to third on the play on an error by the UMD left fielder.  The hit started a rally for SMSU which saw the team collect 10 hits and take advantage of six UMD errors to score 14 runs and eventually end the game via 10-run rule.

The Mustangs finished the game with 17 hits, with Neale, Ellis and Serbus all finishing with three hits, while Neale collected four RBIs.  Ness added two hits and three RBIs, with Young and Kremer each had two hits.

Joe Axelson (2-2) tossed a complete for SMSU allowing four runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk.

Southwest Minnesota State is scheduled to open its home season on Wednesday with a doubleheader versus St. Cloud State at Alumni Field with first pitch set for 1:30 p.m.

GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE