GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS (updated every 10 minutes)

THIS WEEK - The Southwest Minnesota State University baseball team (9-7) opens its 34-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule with a four-game series versus nationally ranked Minnesota State (12-3) this Friday and Saturday in Sioux City, Iowa. The games were orignally schedule for Mankato and Marshall in a home-and-home series on Saturday and Sunday, but were moved due to poor field conditions. All four games will be played at Sioux City North High School with Friday's doubleheader beginning at 1:30 p.m., while Saturday's twinbill is set for 12 p.m. MSU begins the week ranked among the top four in four different national polls.

SERIES HISTORY - Minnesota State leads the all-time series versus Southwest Minnesota State 51-9 and is currently on a 17-game winning streak over SMSU since 2009. MSU won all four games last season (played in Sioux City, Iowa) by scores of 15-3, 2-0, 32-11 and 9-7. SMSU's last victory in the series came on May 14, 2009, at the NCAA Central Region Tournament in Grand Junction, Colo. SMSU head coach Paul Blanchard is 8-34 all-time versus Minnesota State.

LEADING OFF - Patrick Rients leads the team with three home runs and ranks second with 11 RBIs ... Ben Korger leads the team with 15 runs scored and is tied for the team lead with six doubles ... Korger and Sam Haas lead the team with five stolen bases ... Jordon Kontz leads the club with 22 base hits ... Kontz has a team-high eight multi-hit games ... Rients and Jon Ellis each have a team-leading four multi-RBI games ... Joe Axelson recorded a career-high seven strikeouts vs. Bemidji State (March 12) ... Steven Wehr tossed his first career complete game in a 4-2 victory over Bemidji State (March 12) ... Kontz ranks fifth in school history in hit by pitches with 32 ... Josh Hanson belted his first career home run vs. Mayville State (March 13) ... Tanner Neale clubbed his first career home run vs. Northern State (March 9) ... Rients had a team-high 11-game hitting streak (Feb. 15-March 12).