Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

MARSHALL, Minn. – Sophomore left-hander Cole Petersen moved to 4-0 on the season tossing 8 1/3 innings to help Southwest Minnesota State to a 5-2 victory in game two and earn an NSIC split with the University of Sioux Falls on Wednesday at a chilly Alumni Field.
 
A pair of USF pitchers tossed a four-hit shutout in game one to earn a 2-0 victory.
 
Petersen, making his second start of the season, did not allow an earned run, while scattering eight hits and four walks with two strikeouts.
 
Petersen has not allowed an earned run in 20 1/3 innings this season. He tossed 7 1/3 shutout innings in his first start of the season on March 18 in a conference win versus Concordia-St. Paul.
 
In today's game two, USF snapped a scoreless game in the fifth taking advantage of two SMSU errors and a pair of singles to build a 2-0 lead.
 
SMSU (7-9, 2-4 NSIC) answered in a big way in the bottom of the fifth to take its first lead of the day. With one out, Cole VanderBeek reached on an error and was followed by a Liam Lopez double to left centerfield. Moments later Brady Lanoue hit a ground ball that was misplayed by the first baseman allowing both runners to score and tie the game at 2-2. After Lanoue stole second, Kody Larson put SMSU in the lead with a single up the middle. Larson would later score on a sac bunt by Tanner Strommen to push the lead to 4-2.
 
Petersen took command and allowed just one baserunner over the next three innings to keep SMSU with a two-run lead into the bottom of the eighth.
 
SMSU picked up a big run in the eighth as Shane Sellner singled and moved to second on a walk by VanderBeek. After a bunt single by Lopez and a strikeout to Lanoue, Larson came through with a run-scoring single to give the Mustangs a 5-2 advantage.
 
USF (7-12, 5-5 NSIC) loaded the bases with one out off of Petersen in the ninth, but Shawn Williams entered and closed the game with a pair of pop outs to seal the victory and earn his second save of the season.
 
Sellner finished game two 3 for 4 to pace SMSU's 10-hit attack, while Larson and Lopez each collected two hits.
 
In the opener, Justin Clark (0-2) was the tough-luck loser for the Mustangs, allowing one run on three hits in five innings.
 
USF scored the game's first run in the third with two outs, taking advantage of a walk, a stolen base and a single.
 
The Cougars added to the lead in the sixth off of Mustang relief pitcher Davis Bryan. USF scored the insurance run taking advantage of a bad-hop single, a sac bunt, a bunt single and a sac fly to push the lead to 2-0.
 
SMSU was held in check by USF starter Dan Johnson, who tossed five shutout innings with five strikeouts. Mitchell Lyall pitched the final two innings to record the save.
 
SMSU's best chance to score came in the first inning as Jayden Fleck was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a single by Strommen. Following a pair of strikeouts, Sellner reached on an infield single to load the bases, but a fly out ended the scoring threat.
 
Southwest Minnesota State returns to action this Saturday and Sunday with a four-game, home-and-home series with Minnesota State. Saturday's doubleheader will take place in Mankato, while Sunday's twinbill will be held in Marshall. Action starts both days at 1:30 p.m.