> Game 1 Box
> Game 2 Box
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to snap a 9-9 game and went on to earn a 13-9 victory over No. 2-ranked St. Cloud State in game one of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader at Faber Field.
SCSU rallied from a 4-1 deficit in game two, scoring four unearned runs in the contest, to earn a 6-4 victory.
Today was SMSU's ninth straight doubleheader split and moves its record to 14-16 overall, 7-7 NSIC. SCSU is now 31-3 overall, 15-3 NSIC.
The teams will conclude the four-game series on Sunday with a doubleheader starting at 10 a.m. The game was moved earlier two hours because of the threat of the rain later in the day.
In game one, Cole VanderBeek gave SMSU a 1-0 lead in the second with an RBI ground out to score Brandan Alfson.
After SCSU tied the game in the bottom of the second, SMSU answered back with a Jason Minett three-run home run to give the Mustangs a 4-1 lead.
SCSU came back with a big fourth inning scoring six runs on five hits with one SMSU error to take a 7-4 lead.
SMSU didn't trail for long as Austin Stubbs led off the fifth inning with a solo home and following a two-out SCSU error, Brian Redemske belted a two-run homer to tie the game at 7-7.
The Mustangs regained the lead in the sixth as Minett was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, while Alfson walked with the bases loaded to make the score 9-7.
SCSU rallied again in the bottom of the sixth off of SMSU relief pitcher Jake Leighton scoring two runs to tie the game at 9-9.
SMSU broke the tie in the seventh as Derek Branson led off with a single and moved to second on a sac bunt by VanderBeek. After a hit by pitch to Tanner Neale, Patrick Rients singled to left field to score Branson. Stubbs hit a sac fly to give SMSU an 11-9 advantage, before Jarred Carlson belted a two-run home run to push the lead to 13-9.
Leighton (2-0) picked up the win in relief pitching one inning, with Alfson tossing a perfect seventh inning to secure the win.
Mitch Wurm started for the Mustangs and pitched five innings allowing seven runs (five earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
Carlson finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs, while Neale was 2 for 3 with a run scored. Minett finished the game tying a career-high with four RBIs.
In game two, SCSU took an early 1-0 lead in the first, but SMSU came back with two runs in both the third and fourth innings to take a three-run lead.
In the third, VanberBeek started the rally with a single and moved to second on a one-out single by Stubbs. Carlson singled to load the bases before Rients coaxed a walk to tie the game at 1-1. Following a pop out, Alfson gave SMSU a 2-1 lead with bases loaded walk, but SMSU failed to add to the lead leaving the bases loaded.
SMSU added to the lead in the fourth on a two-out, two-run single by Carlson to score VanderBeek and Stubbs. The Mustangs nearly made the score 5-1 in the fifth, but Alfson was thrown out at the plate on a double by Redemske. It was the second SMSU runner thrown out at the plate by the SCSU in the game. In the first inning, Stubbs was thrown out following a single by Shane Sellner.
SCSU rallied with the decisive fifth inning, pushing across five runs (three unearned) on three hits and taking advantage of two SMSU errors to build a 6-4 lead.
SMSU had just two hits in the final four innings as SCSU was able to hold onto the win.
SMSU finished with a 9-6 hit advantage in the game with Carlson leading the charge going 3 for 5 with two RBIS, while Stubbs was 2 for 4 with two runs scored.
Jimmy Callahan (2-1) suffered the tough-luck loss on the mound for SMSU, tossing the first 4 2/3 innings, giving up five runs (two earned) on five hits and six walks with one strikeout. Cameron Kundsen was outstanding in relief, pitching the final 3 1/3 innings allowing just one hit and one unearned run with two strikeouts.
It was the second straight season SMSU has defeated a team ranked No. 2 in the country. SMSU beat Minnesota State in Sioux City, Iowa, on March 21, 2014.
