Box Score

TUCSON, Ariz. – Southwest Minnesota State opened its 2017 season on Sunday night belting four home run in earning a 10-2 victory over Malone University (Ohio) at the Tucson Invite played at the Kino Sports Complex.
 
Derek Branson led a nine-hit attack for SMSU, finishing 2 for 4 with a double, a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Jayden Fleck belted a two-run home run and scored two runs, while Brian Redemske and Jon Leighton each drilled solo home runs to help the Mustang offense.
 
Four SMSU pitchers racked up 13 strikeouts and worked out of numerous tough situations, as the Pioneers stranded 14 runners, including 13 in the first six innings. It is the first time SMSU has recorded 13 strikeouts in a nine-inning game since March 9, 2014, versus Northern State.
 
The season-opening victory is SMSU's first since 2012.
 
Cole Petersen (1-0)—in relief of Mustang starter Justin Clark—picked up the victory, tossing 2 2/3 shutout innings, with three strikeouts, while allowing four hits.
 
Clark pitched 3 1/3 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits with six strikeouts and three walks.
 
Davis Bryan retired six of the seven batters he faced, while Matt Morgan tossed a perfect ninth inning to secure the victory.
 
Branson opened the scoring in the home half of the first as hit drilled a one-out home run over the left field fence.
 
Malone scored a run in the second, but SMSU quickly answered with Redemske drilling a solo home run and two batters later Fleck hit a two-run blast to give SMSU a 4-1 lead.
 
In the third inning, SMSU added to the lead as Branson doubled and scored on a two-run home run from Leighton to extend the margin to 6-1.
 
The Pioneers pushed across a run in the fourth, but the Mustangs scored a run in the fourth, two more in the fifth and added another in the seventh to build the 10-2 advantage.
 
Southwest Minnesota State returns to action tomorrow with a non-conference doubleheader versus Concordia-St. Paul (3-3) starting at 11 a.m. CST.