Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

MARSHALL, Minn. – Bemidji State completed a four-game sweep over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday, earning 7-1 and 7-6 victories in NSIC baseball at Alumni Field.
 
In game one, BSU's Ryan Fransen tossed a four-hit complete game striking out three and walking just one batter in tossing 85 pitches, including 58 for strikes. He lost his shutout bid with two outs in the seventh inning.
 
BSU (17-29, 14-20 NSIC) jumped on the board in the home half of the second inning as Ryan Rumpca reached on a catcher's interference and later scored on an RBI double by Logan Riedel.
 
BSU opened the game up with a five-run fourth inning—highlighted by a 3-run home run from Scott Litchy—hits team-leading ninth of the season, to make the score 6-0.
 
Erik Thorvilson (0-5) took the loss for the Mustangs, tossing five innings and allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits. He finished with three strikeouts, while walking three.
 
SMSU (13-31, 8-26 NSIC) scored its lone run in the seventh as Derek Branson and Shane Sellner singled, before Jayden Fleck walked to load the bases with one out. Ben Heichel reached on a fielder's choice to score Branson and spoil the BSU shutout bid.
 
Brady Lanoue and Liam Lopez collected SMSU's other two hits.
 
In game two, SMSU used a two-out second inning rally to take an early lead. Lopez worked a two-out walk and promptly stole second. Moments later Derek Smith ripped a run-scoring single to left field to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead.
 
BSU came right back with a run in the second on an RBI single by Ryan Rumpca.
 
SMSU quickly responded and regained the lead in the third. The Mustangs used a walk, a single and a hit by pitch to load the bases with no outs. Following a fielder's choice retiring a runner at the plate, Cole VanderBeek stroked a two-run single to left-center to put SMSU in front at 3-1.
 
Once again, the lead did not last long, as BSU rallied with five runs on five hits—four coming with two outs—in the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-3 lead.
 
Jeremy Stouffer (1-2) started on the mound for the Mustangs and lasted just 3 2/3 innings, giving up six runs on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
 
SMSU picked a run back in the fifth as Lopez lined a two-out single to score Shane Sellner, trimming the deficit to 6-4.
 
BSU regained a three-run lead in the seventh with a big unearned run to make the score 7-4.
 
SMSU pulled back to within a run in the eighth inning scoring a pair of runs on four hits. VanderBeek pushed across the first run with a sac fly, before Derek Smith sprinted home later in the inning on a wild pitch. SMSU loaded the bases later in the inning, but a pop out ended the threat and the Mustangs' last scoring threat of the game.

Shawn Williams was excellent out of the Mustang bullpen, firing 4 1/3 innings, giving up one unearned run with three strikeouts.
 
SMSU held a 13-8 hit advantage in game two, but left 12 runners on base. VanderBeek finished 3 for 3 with three RBIs for the Mustangs, while Branson, Heichel, Lopez and Smith all racked up two hits each.
 
Southwest Minnesota State will look to close out the season on a high note next Friday and Saturday hosting Minnesota Crookston at Alumni Field.