Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State closed its season today with a split versus Augustana University at Alumni Field, losing the opener 15-4, before earning a 5-4 victory in game two.
 
SMSU closes it season with an overall record of 9-34 and finished 7-21 in the NSIC. Augustana, ranked No. 5 in the NCAA Central Region, ends the regular season 35-15 and placed second in the NSIC with a record of 26-7.
 
In the game one loss, SMSU's Tanner Picht belted three home runs, becoming just the third Mustang to hit three home runs in a single game.
 
Today were the final games for SMSU seniors Kyle Graves, Travis McGlauflin and Colton Smit.
 
The three seniors all played major parts in the game two win. SMSU struck first as Tanner Luebke singled to lead off the first and later scored on a double by Picht.
 
SMSU added to the lead in the third as Luebke singled and moved to third on a double by Derek Branson. Picht then beat out an infield single to score Luebke, while Shane Sellner pushed across the third run with a sac fly to score Branson and give SMSU a 3-0 lead.
 
Augustana cut into the lead in the fifth, scoring a pair of runs, but SMSU answered right back to regain the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Luebke started the rally with single and moments later raced around the bases on a double by Branson. Following a pop out and strikeout, Sellner came through with a clutch two-out RBI double to make the score 5-2.
 
McGlauflin (2-2) came on in relief with no outs in the fifth and retired eight straight Augustana hitters, but with two outs in the seventh the streak was snapped on a two-out solo home run to make the score 5-3.
 
SMSU had a great chance to add to the lead in the seventh—loading the bases with no outs—but three straight strikeouts ended the threat.  
 
Augustana put together a rally in the ninth, starting the frame with back-to-back singles, before a sac bunt put both runners in scoring position. Following an RBI ground out for the second out, McGlauflin walked the NCAA's leading hitter, Patrick O'Donnell, to put runners on the corners. SMSU freshman Justin Clark—making just his third relief appearance of the season—came into the game and closed it out with a strikeout to secure his first career save.
 
McGlauflin earned the win allowing two runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings with two strikeouts and two walks.
 
Smit made his first start of the season and pitched four-plus innings, allowing two runs on three hits with five walks.
 
Augustana started the weekend ranking fourth in Division II in both batting average and scoring.
 
Luebke set a career-high with three hits in the game and scored three runs. Branson also had three hits and scored twice, while Picht collected two hits and two RBIs.
 
SMSU finished the game out-hitting the Vikings 10-8.
 
In game one, SMSU took an early lead in the bottom of the first as Picht launched his team-leading 10^th home run of the season to make the score 1-0.
 
The lead didn't last long as the Vikings took the lead in the third on a pair of three-run home runs to build a 6-1 lead.
 
SMSU picked up a run back in the bottom of the third as Picht crushed a solo homer over the right field wall to cut the lead to 6-2.
 
Augustana put the game away in the fifth inning scoring nine runs on eight hits to push the lead to 15-2.
 
SMSU scored a single run in the sixth on a Kody Larson RBI infield single, before Picht drilled his third solo home run of the game in the seventh to make the score 16-4.
 
Connor Johnson (0-5) made the start for the Mustangs and tossed 4 1/3 innings, allowing nine runs, 11 hits, three walks with three strikeouts.
 
Picht led SMSU's nine-hit attack going 3 for 4 with three RBIs and three runs scored.