Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

WINONA, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State and Winona State split a pair of tight NSIC games on at Loughery Field on Friday with SMSU earning a 4-3 win in nine innings in game one, before WSU rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh for a walk-off 4-3 victory in game two.
 
WSU's come-from-behind victory was SMSU's fourth loss via walk-off this season in conference play.
 
SMSU is 9-23 overall, 4-18 NSIC, following the split, while WSU is 12-24 overall, 12-14 NSIC.  
 
In game one, Brady Lanoue doubled home the eventual game-winning run in the ninth inning. Tanner Luebke started the rally with a walk and moved to second on a sac bunt by Jayden Fleck. Lanoue followed with a double to centerfield to give SMSU a 4-3 lead.  

WSU had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with one out. SMSU relief pitcher Michael Revening coaxed a fly ball out to right fielder Brian Redemske, who then gunned down the runner trying to get back into second base just seconds before the tying run crossed the plate.
 
WSU opened the game with a run in the first and maintained the lead into the fifth inning before SMSU took its first lead of the game. Lanoue delivered an RBI single to tie the game, before Derek Branson stroked a two-run double, scoring Lanoue and Fleck to make the score 3-1.
 
WSU tied the game in the sixth inning with a pair of two-out RBI hits to make the score 3-3.
 
Erik Thorvilson was solid on the mound for SMSU tossing the first 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with five strikeouts. Brandon Woznak (1-0) pitched 2 1/3 innings of shutout relief, giving up just one hit with one strikeout to earn the victory. Revening tossed the final inning for his first career save.
 
Lanoue finished 3 for 5 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Branson was 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
 
In game two, Luebke hit a lead-off double in the third inning and came around to score on a Lanoue two-out single to give SMSU a 1-0 lead.

The game was delayed via rain for 45 minutes in the fourth inning.
 
After play resumed, the lead moved to 2-0 in the sixth as Cole VanderBeek ripped an RBI single to plate Tanner Strommen. SMSU looked to expand the lead later in the inning, loading the bases, but a pop out ended the frame with the Mustangs holding a 2-0 lead.
 
WSU answered in the sixth inning with two more clutch two-out RBI hits to tie the game at 2-2.
 
SMSU had its own response in the top of the seventh as Lanoue hit a one-out single and scored one batter later on an RBI double by Strommen.
 
Revening came on to attempt to close out the victory, but after recording an out, he walked two batters. James Hardy entered next and allowed an RBI single to tie the game, before hitting the next batter to load the bases. Hardy then uncorked a wild pitch allowing the game-winning run to cross the plate.
 
Jeremy Stouffer had an outstanding start for the Mustangs, allowing two runs on four hits in six innings. He retired the first nine batters of the game before the rain delay halted play. He finished the game retiring WSU in order in four of six innings.
 
Lanoue closed the game 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI, while Luebke was 2 for 3 with a run scored.
 
Southwest Minnesota State returns to play with a doubleheader at Augustana on Wednesday afternoon. SMSU will host U-Mary for a four-game series on April 22-23.