BOX SCORE

TUCSON, Ariz. – Patrick Rients belted a two-run homer and finished with two hits to lead Southwest Minnesota State to a 7-6 victory over NAIA Concordia (Neb.) on Saturday at the Kino Sports Complex.

Jarred Carlson's two-out bases loaded walk in the sixth inning snapped a 6-6 tie and proved to be the game-winning run for SMSU (3-4)

Concordia (4-9) started the ninth inning with a double, but SMSU relief pitcher Brandan Alfson entered the game and struck out all three batters he faced to earn his second save of the season.

The Bulldogs opened the game's scoring with a two-out rally in the top of the first, putting together a double, single and triple to open a 2-0 lead.

The Mustangs quickly answered in the home half of the inning as Jordon Kontz led off with a single and was followed by a long home run by Rients – his team leading third of the season – to tie the game at 2-2.

SMSU took advantage of several Concordia mistakes in the third inning to take the lead. The Mustangs took advantage of an error, two hit by pitches and a single to score three runs and build a 5-2 lead.

Concordia trimmed the lead to 5-4 plating a pair of unearned runs in the fifth inning.

SMSU pushed across an unearned run in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead before Concordia rallied with a two-run sixth to tie the game at 6-6.

The Mustangs then regained the lead in the sixth taking advantage of a two-out error and wild pitching. Kontz reached on a two-out fielding error before Rients walked and Austin Stubbs was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Carlson then coaxed a walk to put SMSU back into the lead at 7-6.

SMSU had just seven hits in the game with Kontz leading the way going 3 for 5 with three runs scored.

Hayden Willner picked his first collegiate victory tossing 2 2/3 shutout innings, allowing three hits with three strikeouts. Travis McGlauflin started for SMSU and lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up six runs, four earned on nine hits.

Southwest Minnesota State continues play tomorrow with a single nine-inning non-conference game versus Northern State starting at 2:30 p.m. CDT. The two teams will also play a non-conference doubleheader on Monday.