GAME 1 LIVE STATS | GAME 2 LIVE STATS

MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University baseball team (16-13, 7-6 NSIC) continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play today with a doubleheader at the University of Sioux Falls (14-19, 8-12 NSIC). The twin bill begins at 1:30 p.m. at Harmodon Park in Sioux Falls, S.D. SMSU begins the day in eighth place in the NSIC standings, while USF is currently in 10th place.
 
SERIES HISTORY – Southwest Minnesota State leads the all-time series versus Sioux Falls 9-2. The two teams split a non-conference doubleheader last season played in Sioux City, Iowa. Last season was the first time the two teams had played since the 1986 season. SMSU head coach Paul Blanchard is 1-1 all-time versus Sioux Falls.
 
LEADING OFF - SMSU's games on April 9 were the first played in Marshall since April 29, 2012, snapping a streak of 69 consecutive games played away from Marshall ... SMSU's three-game sweep of Wayne State was the program's first of three or more games versus WSC in program history … Sam Haas' walk-off double vs. Winona State was SMSU's second walk-off win (Patrick Rients home run vs. Missouri Western) this season ... Mitch Wurm has tossed back-to-back shutouts … Austin Stubbs connected on his first career home run vs. Wayne State on April 13 … Rients leads the team with eight home runs and is also the team leading in batting average (.359) and RBIs (24) ... Ben Korger leads the team with 24 runs scored ... Brandan Alfson and Jon Ellis lead the team lead with nine doubles ... Korger leads the team with seven stolen bases ... Jordon Kontz has a team-high 13 multi-hit games ... Rients has a team-leading eight multi-RBI games ... Kontz drilled his first career home run on April 6 vs. Minnesota Duluth ... Jimmy Callahan tossed a nine-inning shutout vs. Minnesota Duluth (April 5) ... Mitch Wurm tossed a seven-inning three-hit shutout vs. Minnesota Duluth (April 6) and a four-hit shutout vs. Wayne State (April 12) ... Joe Axelson recorded a career-high nine strikeouts vs. Wayne State (April 12) ... Steven Wehr tossed his first career complete game in a 4-2 victory over Bemidji State (March 12) ... Kontz ranks tied for third in school history in hit by pitches with 34 ... Korger ranks sixth in program history with 315 assists … Rients had a team-high 11-game hitting streak (Feb. 15-March 12) ... Ellis was named NSIC Player of the Week on Feb. 18 ... Axelson was named NSIC Pitcher of the Week on March 17 ... Rients was named Player of the Week on April 15 … SMSU has beaten a pair of ranked teams this season, including No. 17 Missouri Western State on Feb. 15 and No. 2 Minnesota State on March 21 ... SMSU's win over MSU was the program's first since 2009, snapping an 18-game losing streak ... SMSU was picked to finish 10th in the NSIC preseason coaches' poll.
 
MORE MUSTANG STATS - For career statistics and career-highs on each SMSU player go to SMSUmustangs.com/baseballcareer.
 
NCAA STATS - SMSU opened this week (through April 13) ranked 14th in Division II in triples per game, 38th in shutouts, 47th in slugging percentage, 52nd in hit by pitches and 84th in doubles per game ... Ben Korger ranks 17th in triples per game and 20th in triples ... Patrick Rients ranks 11th in slugging percentage and 13th in home runs per game ... Ryan Engels ranks 37th in hit by pitches per game.
 
HEAD COACH - Paul Blanchard, the all-time leader in victories at SMSU, is in his 18th season as head coach and has an overall record of 445-347-2, including 241-175 in conference play. During his tenure, Blanchard has led the program to its only NCAA tournament appearance, one NSIC championship, three NSIC tournament championships and 14 appearances in the NSIC tournament. Named the fifth coach in SMSU history on July 14, 1996, Blanchard has coached two NSIC Players of the Year, one NSIC Pitcher of the Year, 21 all-region honorees, two Academic All-Americans, one NCAA All-American and two Major League Baseball draft picks.