GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX

MINNETONKA, Minn. - Minnesota Duluth rallied for three runs in the final two innings, including two with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to earn a 6-5 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in game two of a NSIC doubleheader at Veterans Field. SMSU won the opener 5-0 behind a shutout from Mitch Wurm.
 
The two teams split the four-game series that was played in Minnetonka due to poor field conditions in Duluth. SMSU is now 12-12 overall, 3-5 NSIC, while UMD is 7-15, 3-9 NSIC.
 
In the opener, Wurm (2-2) was brilliant in tossing his first career shutout at SMSU throwing just 76 pitches, including 58 for strikes. He allowed just one UMD player to reach second base and retired the final 13 batters of the game.
 
SMSU got all the run support it would need in the first inning as Ben Korger started the game with a triple and scored on a single by Jordon Kontz. The Mustangs made it 2-0 in the third as Ryan Engels started the frame by getting hit by a pitch and later came around to score on a ground out by Jon Ellis.
 
SMSU then used the long ball in the fourth and fifth innings as Patrick Rients belted his team-leading fifth homer to make the score 3-0, before Kontz connected on his first career homer to push the margin to 4-0.
 
The Mustangs added an unearned run in the seventh for the final margin.
 
Korger led SMSU's nine-hit attack going 3 for 4 with two runs scored, while Kontz added two hits and two RBIs.
 
In game two, UMD finally broke free on the scoreboard – snapping SMSU's 20-inning scoreless streak – with two runs in the third. The Bulldogs had two bunt singles, a walk, a fielder's choice and an SMSU error to plate two runs.
 
UMD then added an unearned run in the fourth on a one-out triple that was misplayed and then a pop up that was dropped with two outs.
 
SMSU answered back in a big way in the fifth taking advantage of wild UMD pitching. Two walks and two hit by pitches scored SMSU's first run before Rients ripped a clutch three-run triple down the right field line to give SMSU a 4-3 lead.
 
The Mustang added to the lead in the seventh on a one-out double by Kontz and then with two outs Austin Stubbs hit a hit pop up to third base that was misplayed for a double and make the score 5-3.
 
UMD scored an unearned run in the eight to make the score 5-4 and set up the rally in the final inning. Brandan Alfson (2-1) – who relieved SMSU starter Joe Axelson in the seventh – walked the first batter in the ninth, before a sac bunt and a ground out put SMSU one out away from victory. Alfson then hit the next batter putting runners at first and second. Down to their last strike, the Bulldogs' Matt Vogt fouled off four pitches to stay alive before tying the game with a double and putting the winning run on third. Following an intentional walk to load the bases, John Meyer worked a walk on a 3-2 pitch to score the winning run.  
 
Joe Axelson started for SMSU and pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and three runs (one earned) with three strikeouts and two walks.
 
SMSU, which committed five errors in game two, collected seven hits with Kontz and Rients each finishing with two hits apiece.
 
Southwest Minnesota State will continue NSIC play on Wednesday hosting Winona State at Alumni Field starting at 1:30 p.m. It will be SMSU's first home games since April 29, 2012.