ESU BOX | MWSU BOX

EMPORIA, Kan. – The Southwest Minnesota State baseball team played two more solid games on Sunday versus two of the top teams in the Central Region, but a pair of eighth inning rallies doomed the Mustangs in a pair close losses on Sunday.

Emporia State's Wade Hanna belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Hornets to a 4-2 victory over SMSU in Sunday's first game, while Missouri Western's David Chew hit a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth to lead MWSU (2-2) to a 4-2 victory in SMSU's second game of the day. Both games were played at ESU's Glennen Field.

SMSU (1-3) was scheduled to open the season with three games versus NAIA Dakota Wesleyan in Pittsburg, Kan., but that series was canceled due to poor weather in Pittsburg. SMSU picked up the four games on Thursday and faced an ESU (2-1) team that was picked to finish fourth in the 14-team MIAA, while MWSU was picked to finish second after winning the MIAA last season and advancing to the NCAA tournament. SMSU lost 11-7 to ESU and defeated MWSU 7-6 on Saturday.

In the opener, SMSU loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, but ESU's Brenton Higgins entered the game and secured the victory coaxing a fly out.

SMSU opened the game's scoring in the top of the first as Jordon Kontz reached via a hit by pitch and was followed two batters later by Jon Ellis, who connected on a two-run homer over the left field wall to give the Mustangs an early two-run lead.

ESU scored a run in the third and plated an unearned run in the fifth to tie the game at 2-2.

Mustang starting pitcher Joe Axelson tied a career-high tossing seven innings, allowed just one earned run on seven hits with six strikeouts and three walks. Travis McGlauflin (0-1) came on in relief in the eighth inning and struck out the first batter he faced, before allowing a walk and the home run by Hanna.

In the ninth, Ellis led off with a single and following a fielder's choice for the first out, Jarred Carlson walked to put runners on first and second. A wild pitch moved both runners up a base, before Ben Korger fouled out for the second out. Ryan Engels walked to load the bases, but Higgins came into the game and closed the victory with a fly out by Jason Minnet.

Ellis led SMSU's six-hit attack with two hits.

In SMSU's second game, MWSU snapped a 2-2 game in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run single by Chew.

SMSU opened the scoring in the third inning as Ellis ripped an RBI double to score Kontz, who led off the inning with a single. SMSU would score another run on an error by MWSU.

The Griffons came back to tie the score in the fourth inning on a two-run homer by Will Carter.

SMSU starter James Callahan – making his Mustang debut – was impressive, tossing seven innings, allowed two runs on two hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Brandyn Olsen – making his first collegiate appearance – suffered the loss allowing two runs, one earned, with one strikeout.

SMSU was held to four hits with Kontz collecting two, while Ellis and Patrick Rients each had one.

Southwest Minnesota State returns to action on March 7 with the first of 12 games at the Tucson Invitational. SMSU opens its spring trip with games versus Malone (Ohio) and Cal State San Bernardino on March 7.