Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Southwest Minnesota State snapped a nine-game losing streak by earning a 10-7 victory over Northern State in game two of an NSIC doubleheader on Saturday at Fossum Field. NSU won three of four games in the series, after earning a 4-1 victory in game one on Saturday.
 
In the nightcap, SMSU (8-18, 3-13 NSIC) smacked out 16 hits—its second highest total of the season—while the 10 runs scored is its highest total in conference play.
 
Derek Smith, appearing in his first game for the Mustangs, finished 3 for 4 and scored three runs. Jayden Fleck also had a big game, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Cole VanderBeek, Shane Sellner, Liam Lopez and Brady Lanoue all finished with two hits to pace the offensive explosion.
 
Derek Branson ended the game with four RBIs to lead the Mustangs.
 
Shawn Williams (1-1) picked up the victory with a career-high 4 2/3 innings of solid relief, allowing one run on two hits with five strikeouts.
 
Jeremy Stouffer started on the bump for the Mustangs and lasted 4 1/3 innings after allowing six runs on six hits.
 
As it did in three of the four games this weekend, SMSU scored the game's first run and later went on to build a 4-0 lead. In the first inning, Branson drove in the first run with a ground out, while later in the frame Sellner hit a sac fly to plate another run.
 
SMSU added a single run in the second as Lanoue led off with single and later scored on a passed ball. The lead grew to 4-0 in the third inning as Lopez singled and came around to score two batters later on an RBI double by Lanoue.
 
NSU (12-16, 5-11 NSIC) scored a run in both the third and fourth innings to cut the lead to 4-2, before breaking through with a four-run fifth inning to take a 6-4 lead. The Wolves took advantage of two walks and a hit by pitch to score the four runs, despite collecting just one hit in the inning.
 
SMSU came right back in the top of the sixth to regain the lead. Smith opened the rally with single and moved to second on a base hit by Cole VanderBeek. Following an error to load the bases and a strikeout out, Branson drove in a pair of runs on a single to tie the game at 6-6. Lopez with later hit a clutch two-out single to drive in Jayden Fleck and give SMSU a 7-6 lead.
 
SMSU added to the lead in the seventh as Smith single and came home two batters later on an RBI triple by Fleck.
 
NSU cut the deficit to 8-7 in the seventh, but Williams maintained the lead for SMSU with a big strikeout to end the inning. Williams then worked a perfect eighth inning—with a pair of strikeouts—to keep SMSU holding a one-run lead.
 
The Mustangs picked up a pair of big insurance runs in the ninth as Fleck delivered an RBI double, while Branson laid down a sac bunt to score another run, to push the margin to 10-7.
 
In game one, SMSU opened the scoring in the second inning on an infield RBI single by Brian Redemske to score Branson.
 
NSU quickly answered with a run in the bottom of the second, then plated a single run in the third to take the lead and added two more in the fourth to build a 4-1 advantage.
 
Erik Thorvilson (0-4) suffered the loss on the mound for SMSU, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. Michael Revenig tossed two shutout innings of relief for the Mustangs.
 
SMSU was limited to four singles in the opener.
 
Southwest Minnesota State returns home to face Wayne State College on Tuesday with a doubleheader starting at 1:30 p.m. at Alumni Field.