THIS WEEKEND – The Southwest Minnesota State University baseball team (15-19, 8-10 NSIC) returns to the road this Saturday and Sunday for a four-game series at Upper Iowa University in Fayette. Doubleheaders on both days begin at 12 p.m. at Robertson Woods Field.
 
MEDIA COVERAGE - Live statistics for all home games can be found at livestats.smsu.edu/baseball, while updates can also be found by following @smsubaseball on Twitter.
            Live stats for this weekend's games versus Upper Iowa can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.
 
SERIES HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota holds a 17-16 advantage over Upper Iowa in a series that started in 2005. The teams have split 16 games played all-time in Fayette. SMSU last played in Fayette on March 31-April 1, taking three of four games from UIU. The teams last played each other on Feb. 14, 2013, splitting a non-conference doubleheader at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.
            SMSU head coach Paul Blanchard is 17-16 all-time versus UIU.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR SMSU – Southwest Minnesota State split a doubleheader with Sioux Falls on Wednesday at Alumni Field in Marshall. SMSU rallied for a 7-6 victory in nine innings in game one, before suffering a 1-0 loss in game two. In the opener, SMSU scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings. Ryan Engels pushed across the game-winning run in the ninth with a sac fly to score Brandan Alfson. Jarred Carlson finished 3 for 5 with two RBIs, while Alfson was 3 for 4 with an RBI.
            In game two, Alfson was the tough-luck losing pitcher, tossing a seven-inning complete game, allowing one run on eight hits with five strikeouts and no walks. SMSU was held to just five hits in getting shutout for the second time this season.