GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX

MARSHALL, Minn. - Sam Haas drilled a two-out double in the bottom of the ninth to push across the winning run and help Southwest Minnesota State earn a 6-5 victory and salvage a split with Winona State on Wednesday at Alumni Field. Winona State won the opener 8-5.
 
The two games were the first for SMSU at home since April 29, 2012. SMSU had played its last 69 games on the road.
 
SMSU (13-13, 4-6 NSIC) trailed 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth in game two before Jon Ellis lead off the inning with a solo home run off a 2-2 pitch over the right centerfield fence to tie the game off of WSU closer Scott Freiburger. Freiburger – who earned a save in game one - entered game two having not allowing a run all season long in eight appearances with seven saves. 
 
Following the home run, Freiburger struck out Austin Stubbs and Patrick Rients, before Brandan Alfson came through with a double to right center. Ryan Engels was then hit by a pitch to bring Haas to the plate, who then stroked a 1-1 pitch into the left centerfield gap to score Alfson and give SMSU its second walk-off victory of the season.
 
SMSU started the scoring in game two in the third inning on an RBI double by Ellis scoring Ben Korger, who started the inning with a walk.
 
WSU (10-15, 7-6 NSIC) came back in the top of the fourth plating three runs on three hits to take a 3-1 lead off of SMSU starter Travis McGlauflin.
 
SMSU had its own response in the home half of the fourth with clutch two-out hitting to regain the lead. With runners on the corners and two outs, Korger and Jordon Kontz delivered back-to-back RBI singles to tie the game, before Ellis came through again with a run-scoring double to give the Mustangs a 4-3 lead.
 
The scorer remained 4-3 until the seventh when the Warriors caught a huge break. McGlauflin retired the first two batters of the inning on five pitches and then appeared to be out of the inning when he coaxed a fly ball to right field. However, right fielder Alfson couldn't pick up the ball off the bat and the ball dropped in for a single. Moments later, Travis Evanson – WSU's top home run hitter – drilled a two-run shot over the centerfield fence to give the Warriors a 5-4 lead.
 
Ryan Ecalbarger (1-0) came on in relief and held WSU scoreless over the final 2 1/3 innings to pick up the victory. McGlauflin tossed 6 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
 
The SMSU offense mustered 15 hits – its first double digit hit total in NSIC play this season. Ellis finished 3 for 4 with three RBIs, Alfson went 3 for 5 with two runs scored, while Rients and Hass both finished with two hits apiece.
 
In the opener, SMSU opened the game's scoring with a two-out rally in the first on consecutive singles by Ellis, Stubbs and Rients to take a 1-0 lead.
 
WSU tied the game off of SMSU starter Steven Wehr with a run in the second and nearly took the lead in both the third and fourth innings. The Warriors left runners two runners on base in the third and the bases loaded in the fourth, but both times SMSU relief pitcher Brandyn Olsen worked out of the jams keeping the game tied.
 
SMSU regained the lead in the fourth as Rients started the inning with a single and was followed by a two-run home run by Alfson – the first homer of his career – to give SMSU a 3-1 advantage.
 
WSU answered back in the fifth with two singles and a walk to load the bases. Olson then recorded a ground out and a strikeout and nearly escaped the jam, but on a 1-2 pitch Olson hit WSU's Andrew Geislinger to make the score 3-2. Ryan Nyhagen then gave the Warriors the lead with a two-run single to make the score 4-3.
 
The Warriors added a run in the sixth and three unearned runs in the seventh to build an 8-3 lead. The insurance runs proved to be big as Ellis drilled a two-run double to make the score 8-5 and bring Stubbs to the plate as the tying run, but Freiburger closed the game recording a strikeout to notch his seventh save of the season.
 
Ellis finished 2 for 4 with two RBIS and a run scored for the Mustangs, while Rients added two hits to help the SMSU attack. SMSU ended the game committing five errors.
 
Wehr started on the mound for SMSU, but was limited to a 40-pitch limit. He tossed 2 2/3 innings, giving up one run on three hits. Olsen (0-3) suffered the loss allowing three runs on four hits with three walks and one strikeout.
 
Southwest Minnesota State will continue its homestand this weekend with a four-game series versus Wayne State. Saturday's doubleheader will begin at 1:30 p.m.