Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

MARSHALL, Minn. – Upper Iowa's Zach Carstens tossed a nine-inning five-hit shutout to lead Upper Iowa to a 2-0 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in game two of an NSIC doubleheader and complete a Saturday sweep at Alumni Field. UIU's Tyus Adkins fired a complete seven-hitter in the opener to lead the Peacocks to a 7-3 victory.
 
The two teams conclude the series tomorrow starting with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.
 
Carstens has now tossed 16 straight shutout innings in his last two starts. He fired a seven-inning 1-hit shutout last weekend at Minnesota Crookston.
 
In game one, UIU (14-19, 10-12 NSIC) put together a three-hit first inning to push across a run in the top of the first to take an early lead. The Peacocks then scored four more runs on four hits in the top of the second to extend the margin to 5-0.
 
SMSU cut into the lead in the home half of the second as Jayden Fleck hit a two-out, two-run single to make the deficit, 5-2.
 
Following a scoreless third innings, the Peacocks added to the lead with a two-run fourth to build a 7-2 advantage.
 
The Mustangs turned a rare feat in the top of the sixth inning, recording the team's first triple play since April 8, 2006. With runners on the corners, Jon Leighton caught a line drive to right field and then threw to first base to double off the runner for out number two. The runner from third base attempted to score, but SMSU executed the run-down to record the third out. The official scoring on the play was F935269.
 
Adkins allowed three earned runs on seven hits with six strikeouts.
 
Leighton led the SMSU offense going 3 for 4, while Fleck added two hits and two RBIs.
 
Alex Jorgensen (0-5) suffered the loss for the Mustangs, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
 
In game two, UIU struck for the only runs in the third inning, scoring on a catcher's interference and sac fly.
 
The runs were enough for Carstens, who allowed five hits and struck out 12 batters, while walking two. He finished tossing 127 pitches, including 90 for strikes.
 
Connor Johnson (0-3) was the tough-luck losing pitcher for the Mustangs. The left-hander tossed SMSU's first nine-inning complete game this season, allowing seven hits, two runs (one earned) with a career-high four strikeouts. He finished the game with just 104 pitches, including 66 for strikes.
 
Tanner Picht led the SMSU offense with a pair of hits, while Leighton, Fleck and Derek Branson each collected one hit apiece.
 
Leighton's single in the fourth inning of game two extended his hitting streak to 19 straight games. Branson's 12-game hitting streak was snapped in game one.