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MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State used a big rally to defeat the University of Sioux Falls 7-6 in nine innings in game one, but a five-hit shutout in game two helped the Cougars earn a split with a 1-0 victory in the night cap.

The splits leaves SMSU with a record of 15-19 overall, 8-10 NSIC, while USF is 14-20 overall, 11-7 NSIC.

Ryan Engels hit a sac fly in the bottom of the ninth to lift SMSU to the game one victory. The Mustangs trailed 6-2 in the bottom of the seventh, but rallied with four runs to send the game to extra innings.
 
SMSU opened the game's scoring in the bottom of the first as Austin Stubbs hit a two-out single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Jarred Carlson followed with a clutch single to score Stubbs and give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead.

USF countered in the top of the second with a one-out walk, a single and two-run double to take a 2-1 advantage.

SMSU tied the game back up in the fourth as Jason Minett and Brandan Alfson worked two out walks. Following a wild pitch, Derek Branson smacked a run-scoring single to right field to score Minett. SMSU would later load the bases, but a strikeout ended the threat.

USF answered back in the top of the fifth to regain the lead. With one out, a hit by pitch, wild pitch and ground out put a runner at third. The Cougars' Noah Durkin then hit a double down the left field line to score the go-ahead run and make the score 3-2.

USF added to the lead in the sixth with three runs on three hits and two SMSU errors to build a 6-2 lead.

It remained a four-run lead into the seventh before SMSU started its comeback. With one out, Patrick Rients drilled a double to left-center field. Austin Stubbs reached on a fielding error to score Rients and came around to score one batter later on a Jarred Carlson single to cut the USF lead to 6-4. Minett followed with a double to left field to put runners on second and third with one. Alfson then cut the deficit to one with a run-scoring, before Branson laid down a perfect sac bunt to score Minett and tie the game at 6-6. SMSU later would put runners on second and third with two outs, but a strikeout ended the inning and send the game to extra innings.

In the ninth, Minett started the rally with a single and moved to third on a line drive double down the right field line by Alfson. Following an intentional walk to Branson to load the bases, Tanner Neale hit into a fielder's choice for the first out with USF playing with a five-man infield. Engels then stepped up and hit a 2-2 pitch deep enough to right-center field to score Alfson with the game-winning run.

Cameron Knudsen, making his first start of the season, pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on just four hits with two strikeouts and three walks.

Mitch Wurm (4-1) struck out the only two batters he faced in the top of the ninth to pick up the victory.

In game two, USF pushed across a run in the top of the fourth inning with four hits to take a 1-0 lead.

That was all the run support that USF freshman pitcher Kacey Myrlie needed as he limited SMSU to just five hits in earning the Cougars' first shutout of the season. He struck out nine batters and walked just one. He allowed just two SMSU runners to reach second base.

SMSU's only threat in the game came in the bottom of the seventh. Noah Bluth reached on a one-out single and was followed by a four-pitch walk by Branson to move pinch runner Tanner Luebke into scoring position. But a pair of fly outs ended the game as SMSU suffered its second shutout of the season.

Alfson (2-2) was the tough-luck loser on the mound for SMSU, allowing eight hits with five strikeouts and no walks

Southwest Minnesota State returns to the road this Saturday and Sunday with a four-game series versus Upper Iowa University in Fayette. Doubleheaders on both days begin at 12 p.m.