> Game 1 Box
> Game 2 Box
ABERDEEEN, S.D. – Mitch Wurm tossed a nine-inning complete game, recording a career-high 11 strikeouts, to lead Southwest Minnesota State to a 9-6 victory over Northern State in game two of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader on Friday night at Fossum Field. The win secured a split for SMSU on the day as NSU won the opener 11-7.
The two teams will conclude the four-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader at 4 p.m.
In the nightcap, Wurm (3-1) tossed his second straight nine-inning complete game, scattering eight hits, while walking three and allowing six runs (five earned). After the first three NSU batter reached base to start the game, Wurm retired 12 of the next 13 hitters and allowed just three hits in the game's first six innings.
Tanner Neale started the game with a lead-off single and later scored on an RBI single by
Jarred Carlson.
Brian Redemske later scored another run with a fielder's choice to plate
Patrick Rients.
NSU picked up a run in the bottom of the first, but SMSU came right back with a big second inning to build a 5-1 lead.
Derek Branson started the inning with a single and moved to third on the play following an error by the NSU centerfielder.
Jason Minett followed with an RBI single to give SMSU a 3-1 lead. Minett later stole second and came around to score on a run-scoring single by Rients, before Carlson stepped up and hit an RBI double to make the score 5-1.
The Wolves cut the deficit to 5-2 after five innings, but the Mustangs added to the lead in the top of the sixth.
Austin Stubbs drove in the first run of the inning on an RBI single to score Minett, before Carlson stepped up and belted a two-run homer making the score 8-2.
Cole VanderBeek gave SMSU a 9-2 lead in the seventh with an RBI single to score Redemske.
NSU scored a pair of runs on three hits in the seventh, but Wurm worked a perfect eighth inning to earn a chance at the complete game. He retired the first two batters of the inning, before back-to-back doubles and a fielding error scored two runs. Wurm then coaxed a line out to end the game and secure SMSU's sixth straight doubleheader split.
Carlson tied a career-high with four hits, finishing 4 for 5 with four RBIs, while Rients and Branson each finished 2 for 5. The Mustangs finished with 13 hits in the game.
In game one, SMSU trailed 1-0 after the first inning, but quickly regained the lead on an RBI single by Redemske and a sac fly by Minett to make the score 2-1.
NSU tied the game in the second, but again SMSU went back in front in the third as Stubbs hit a two-run homer to give SMSU a 4-2 advantage.
The Wolves then put together the game's decisive inning in the third, scoring six runs (five unearned), taking advantage of two SMSU errors. NSU hit a two-run homer and a three-run homer in the inning to build an 8-4 lead.
SMSU used an RBI double by Redemske, an RBI single by Neale and later scored a run on an NSU error to cut the lead to 8-7 in the fourth inning. NSU answered back with a run in the fourth and two more in the sixth to seal the win.
Redemske led SMSU going 3 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
SMSU starter
Jake Matthys (0-5) suffered the loss, allowing eight runs (three earned) on seven hits in three innings of work. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.
