Box Score

TUCSON, Ariz. – Southwest Minnesota State used timely hitting while four pitchers combined for a five-hit shutout as the Mustangs earned their first victory of the season on Sunday night with a 7-0 win over Bethany Lutheran College at the Tucson Invitational.  
 
SMSU (1-2) started the scoring in the top of the first as Shane Sellner smacked a two-out double and moments later scored on a run-scoring single by Ben Heichel.
 
SMSU added to the lead in the third as Spencer Rudnik doubled to lead off the frame and moved to third following a single by Jayden Fleck. Jake Hendricks then hit into a double play to score Rudnik and make the score 2-0.
 
It remained 2-0 until the seventh when SMSU started to pull away. With one out, Liam Lopez walked and was followed by back-to-back singles by Tanner Strommen and Rudnik. Fleck pushed the lead to 3-0 with an RBI single before Hendricks ripped a two-run double to extend the lead to 5-0.
 
Fleck added to the margin in the ninth belting a two-run homer to make the score 7-0.
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The run support was plenty for Mustang starter Cole Petersen, who tosses six innings to secure the win, allowing four hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Jared Tschetter fired 1 1/3 innings of relief, while Shawn Williams worked out of a bases loaded jam in the eighth inning with 2/3 innings. Josh Cook closed the game with a perfect ninth inning.
 
Fleck paced SMSU's 11-hit attack going 3 for 5 with three RBI, while Heichel and Rudnik both finished with a pair of hits.
 
Bethany was picked to finish second in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference.
 
Southwest Minnesota State returns to the diamond on Monday facing nationally ranked St. Cloud State starting at 10 a.m.