Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Southwest Minnesota State collected a season-high 17 hits and used a complete game effort from freshman Justin Clark to earn a 12-2 seven-inning victory over the University of Sioux Falls and earn a split of an NSIC doubleheader on Thursday. USF won game one by a score of 12-5. The games were played on the campus of Augustana University due to wet field conditions at Harmodon Park.
 
SMSU (4-23, 2-10 NSIC) jumped out to a 5-0 first inning lead in the nightcap and eventually pushed the lead to 12-0 to cruise to the victory.
 
Jon Leighton finished 3 for 4 with three RBIs and three runs scored in the contest, including recording his fourth home run of the season, while extending his team-leading hitting streak to 17 games. Shane Sellner also had a big game, finishing 3 for 4 with three RBIs, including belting a three-run home run. Tanner Picht recorded three hits, including two doubles and a triple.
 
Derek Branson, Josh Cook, Cole VanderBeek and Tanner Luebke all finished with two hits apiece for the Mustangs. Branson has hit safely in 12 straight games.
 
The run support was plenty for Clark, who won his second straight start to improve to 2-2 on the season. He tossed his first career complete game, allowing one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks. He lowered his team-best ERA to 3.82 in 30 2/3 innings.
 
Picht started the scoring for SMSU in the first frame with a sac fly to score Jayden Fleck, before Cook hit a run-scoring single to make the score 2-0. A bases loaded walk by Kody Larson made the score 3-0, and moments later was followed by a Luebke two-out, two-run single to make the score 5-0.
 
SMSU made it 7-0 in the second on an RBI single by Leighton and an RBI ground out by VanderBeek. In the third, Leighton pushed the lead to 9-0 with a two-run home run to center field.
 
The lead ballooned to 12-0 in the fifth as Sellner delivered a three-run home run over the left field wall to score Branson and Leighton.
 
USF (16-18, 9-8 NSIC) scored in five of six innings to win going away in the opener. The Cougars scored single runs in both the first and second innings off of SMSU starting pitcher Cole Petersen (2-4).
 
SMSU answered in the top of the third to tie the score as Luebke led off with a single and later scored on a fielding error by the USF left fielder. Picht later singled to right field to push across VanderBeek and tie the game at 2-2.
 
USF came right back to regain the lead in the third on a two-run home run and then plated four unearned runs in the fourth taking advantage of two Mustang errors to push the margin to 8-2.
 
Petersen allowed eight runs (four earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
 
Picht finished game one 3 for 4 with four RBIs, including belting a three-run homer in the seventh for his team-leading sixth home run of the season.
 
Southwest Minnesota State returns to Alumni Field this Saturday and Sunday with a four-game set with Upper Iowa University. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.