BOX SCORE

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Winona State pushed across two runs in the bottom of the eight to earn a 4-3 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in an elimination game at the NSIC tournament at Sioux Falls Stadium.
 
The loss ends the season for SMSU with a 27-23 record, while WSU improves to 25-21 and advances to play St. Cloud State tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.
 
SMSU left eight runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded in the first and runners on the corners in the second inning.
 
SMSU scored the game's first run in the fourth as Sam Haas reached on a bunt single, stole second and later advanced to third on a throwing error by the WSU catcher. With runners on the corners and two outs, Tanner was caught in a run-down attempting to steal second and in the process Haas came home to score before Neale was tagged out.
 
WSU tied the game in the fifth as Michael Hommes connected on a two-out RBI single to make the score 1-1.
 
SMSU answered in the top of the sixth as Jon Ellis lead off with a double and with one out advanced to third on a wild pitch. Following two walks and strikeout, Ben Korger drilled a two-run single to right to score Ellis and Haas to give SMSU a 3-1 advantage.
 
WSU scored a run in the sixth to trim the lead to 3-2 off of SMSU starter Joe Axelson, but relief pitcher Mitch Wurm entered the game with two runners on base and coaxed a foul out to end the threat.
 
SMSU had a lead-off single in the seventh and a one-out triple in the eighth, but failed to capitalize and add to the lead.
 
Wurm tossed a perfect seventh inning, but in the eighth a lead-off double and an infield single put runners on first and second. Wurm then got WSU clean-up hitter Travis Evanson to hit a comebacker, but he bobbled the ball and then threw the ball into centerfield to score the tying run. A single loaded the bases with no outs, before Wurm recorded a big strikeout. WSU's Nathan Krause then pushed across the game-winning run on a ground out to give the Warriors a 4-3 lead.
 
Lucas Crimmins retired the Mustangs in order in the ninth to secure the victory. The right-hander tossed the final 3 2/3 innings for WSU and allowed just three hits and struck out three.
 
Wurm (5-4) suffered the loss giving up two runs (one earned) in 2 1/3 innings with two strikeouts. Axelson pitched the first 5 2/3 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
 
SMSU was held to seven hits with Korger leading the way going 2 for 4.
 
SMSU's Patrick Rients finished 0 for 3 and had his season-high 17-game hitting streak come to an end.