Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

MARSHALL, Minn. – Northern State used timely hitting and took advantage of Southwest Minnesota State errors to earn an NSIC doubleheader sweep at Alumni Field on Tuesday. NSU won the opener 3-0 and won game two 5-3.
 
With a strong wind blowing in from centerfield, clutch hitting and strong defense would make the difference as the teams combined for just one extra-base hit in the two games.
 
In the opener, NSU's Colton Boucher tossed a four-hit shutout with six strikeouts and one walk to lead the Wolves.
 
Alex Jorgensen (0-3) was the tough-luck loser for SMSU, tossing his first career complete game with a career-high eight strikeouts. He allowed three hits and walked two.
 
NSU (9-5, 2-0 NSIC) jumped on the board early in the opener taking advantage of a leadoff walk, an infield single and a two-out error to score three runs, with two unearned. 
 
SMSU (2-15, 0-2 NSIC) threatened to score in both the fourth and fifth innings but came up short. The Mustangs put runners on first and third with one out in the fourth on singles by Jon Leighton and Shane Sellner, but a fly out and ground out ended the inning. In the fifth, Kody Larson belted a one-out double, but was stranded at third base.
 
In game two, NSU scored an unearned run in the third and then pushed across three unearned runs in the fifth to build a 4-0 advantage.
 
SMSU rallied in the home half of the fifth to cut the lead in half. Jayden Fleck and Picht started the frame with back-to-back bunt singles. Following a line out, Leighton singled to left field to load the bases. Sellner had an RBI fielder's choice to score the first run, before Cole VanderBeek came through with a two-out RBI single to make the score 4-2.
 
SMSU mounted another rally and nearly tied the game in the eighth inning. VanderBeek walked and Michael Marchese was hit by a pitch to start the inning, before a strikeout and ground out moved both runners to second and third. Fleck then ripped a single to left field to score VanderBeek, but Marchese was gunned down at the plate to keep the score 4-3.
 
The Wolves added an insurance run in the ninth inning to make the score 5-3.
 
Justin Clark (0-2) started on the mound for the Mustangs and tossed a solid 4 2/3 innings, allowing four unearned runs on three hits. He had six strikeouts and walked three batters. Cole Petersen was outstanding in relief, giving up one run on four hits in 4 1/3 innings.
 
SMSU finished game two with 12 hits with Fleck, Picht, VanderBeek and Marchese all collecting two hits.
 
Southwest Minnesota State continues its homestand this Saturday and Sunday hosting undefeated and No. 1 ranked St. Cloud State. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 1:30 p.m.