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MARSHALL, Minn. – Wayne State put together multi-run innings in both games to sweep a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader from Southwest Minnesota State on Friday at Alumni Field. WSC won the opener 9-3 in eight innings, before holding on for a 7-4 win in game two.
SMSU drops to 21-27 overall, 14-18 NSIC, and eliminates the team from qualifying for the NSIC Tournament next week in Sioux Falls, S.D. WSC improves to 25-22 overall, 20-14 NSIC.
The two teams conclude the four-game series on Saturday starting at 12 p.m. SMSU will honor its 10 seniors prior to game two.
In the opener, SMSU opened the scoring in the home half of the first as
Patrick Rients crushed a two-run home run over the right-center field fence to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead.
WSC cut the lead to 2-1 in the fourth on a two-out RBI single by John Roberts.
The Wildcats tied the game in the fifth with a solo home run by Tanner Simons—his first career home run.
SMSU regained the lead in the fifth as
Austin Stubbs drilled a homer to give the Mustangs a 3-2 lead, but WSC answered in the sixth with a two-out solo home run by Roberts to tie the game at 3-3.
SMSU threatened in both the sixth and seventh innings, but left a runner at second in the sixth and runners at first and second in the seventh sending the game in extra innings. SMSU left nine runners on base in the game.
In the eighth inning with a runner at first and one out, WSC put together six straight hits to score six runs and build a 9-3 lead and the eventual victory.
Mitch Wurm started for SMSU and tossed six strong innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and no walks.
Travis McGlauflin (1-3) suffered the loss giving up three runs in 1 1/3 innings on three hits.
SMSU was limited to just five hits in the contest and struck out 18 times. Stubbs finished the game 2 for 4 with a double and home run and scored two runs.
WSC starter Eric Browning pitched six innings and struck out 13 batters in earning a no decision.
In game two, SMSU started the scoring with an RBI double by Stubbs in the bottom of the first inning to score
Jason Minett.
WSC rebounded in the second to take the lead using a single, three walks and a hit by pitch to push across two runs and build a 2-1 lead.
SMSU answered back in the fourth as Stubbs blasted a solo homer over the centerfield wall for his team-leading 15th home run of the season to tie the game.
The game didn't stay tied for long as WSC countered with a five-run top of the fifth to open a 7-2 advantage. The big blow came from Simon as he connected on a three-run homer to extend the lead to five runs.
The score remained 7-2 until the sixth when
Jarred Carlson hit a two-run opposite field home run making the score 7-4, but that was as close as the Mustangs would come.
Jimmy Callahan started for SMSU and lasted 1 1/3 innings giving up two runs and one hit with three walks.
Colton Smit (3-2) took the loss allowing three runs on four hits in three innings.
The Mustangs had just six hits in game two with Stubbs finishing 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Stubbs' 15 home runs now ranks tied for fifth in the program's single-season record book. SMSU blasted four home runs today moving its season total to 53, ranking as the second highest total in program history. The 2009 team holds the record hitting 61 home runs.
