Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

DULUTH, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State suffered its third walk-off loss in NSIC play this season, falling 2-1 to Minnesota Duluth in game two of a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at Wade Stadium.
 
The victory completed a doubleheader sweep for the Bulldogs, following a 14-1 victory in game one.
 
SMSU (7-15, 2-10 NSIC) had a pair of chances to snap the tie in game two, but just could not come up with the big hit. The Mustangs left the bases loaded in the sixth and a pair of runners in scoring position in the eighth inning.
 
SMSU starting pitcher Chase Meyer had his best performance of the season, scattering seven hits over seven innings with four strikeouts and three walks.
 
Mustang relief pitcher Shawn Williams (0-1) took the loss, tossing the final 1 1/3 innings.
 
UMD (12-12, 7-5 NSIC) pushed across the game-winning run in the ninth inning with a lead-off single, a sac bunt and a single up the middle by Kyle Hoffman.   
 
SMSU, which finished the game with seven hits, scored its lone run in the sixth inning. Trailing 1-0, Jayden Fleck started the rally with a double and moved up 90 feet on a single by Cole VanderBeek. Following a strikeout and walk to load the bases, Shane Sellner tied the game with a sac fly to right field. Liam Lopez followed with an infield single to load the bases, but the Bulldogs escaped further damage as a fly out ended the inning.
 
Derek Branson finished the game 2 for 3 with a walk, while Sellner had a double and a walk.
 
In game one, UMD jumped on the board early with five first inning runs on six hits off SMSU starting pitcher Jared Tschetter.
 
SMSU countered with a run in the second inning as Branson led off with a single and later scored on a sac fly from Lopez.
 
Trailing 5-1 in the third, SMSU loaded the bases with one following three singles, but a strikeout and fly out ended the threat.
 
The Bulldogs pushed across single runs in the third and fourth innings to build a 7-1 lead, before scoring seven runs in the sixth to blow the game open.
 
SMSU was limited to four singles in the game.
 
Tschetter (1-3) allowed seven runs on 13 hits in five innings of work.
 
Southwest Minnesota State continues play on the road this weekend with a four-game series versus Northern State in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 4 p.m., while Sunday's action begins at 12 p.m.

Photo credits: Dave Harwig