Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

MAUSTON, Wis. – The Southwest Minnesota State baseball team dropped two more heart-breaking games on Saturday, losing a pair of one-game runs to Winona State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference baseball at the Woodside Sports Complex.
 
WSU won the opener 3-2, and then completed the sweep with a 6-5 walk-off victory in game two. SMSU, which has now lost seven straight, has lost four one-run games in league play, including three via walk-off fashion.
 
In game one, SMSU (2-11 overall, 1-7 NSIC) opened the scoring in the second inning as Robbie Smith and Matt Bezdicek reached on singles. With two outs, Kip Gronholz and Andy Andresen each hit run-scoring singles to give the Mustangs a 2-0 advantage.
 
The game wasn't tied for long as the Warriors answered with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the second. WSU took the lead in the third inning taking advantage of a one-out walk and an RBI single by Austin Savary to move in front 3-2.
 
SMSU was held in check until the seventh inning before mounting a rally. Pinch hitter Connor Johnson started the inning with an infield single and was followed by a walk to Nathan Kuhn. WSU closer Nicolas Herold responded by striking out the next three batters on 10 pitches to seal the victory.
 
John Bezdicek (0-2) was the tough-luck loser for SMSU on the mound as he fired six innings, allowing the three runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and one walk.
 
Both teams finished with eight hits with Andresen and Robbie Smith both recording two hits for the Mustangs.
 
In game two, the Mustangs once again jumped on the board early, collecting four hits and pushing across three runs in the first. Kuhn started the game with a single and came around to score on a two-out, run-scoring single by Jayden Fleck. Jake Hendricks followed with an RBI double and Tanner Strommen then smacked an RBI single to make the score 3-0.
 
WSU answered with three runs, two unearned, off of SMSU starter Alex Jorgensen in the second inning. The Warriors used three hits and one Mustang error to tie the score.
 
The game remained tied until the fifth when WSU's Sam Kohnle hit a clutch two-out, two-run single to put the Warriors in front at 5-3.
 
SMSU quickly answered in the top of the sixth as Ben Heichel hit his first home run of the season to trim the deficit to 5-4.
 
SMSU rallied to tie the game in the eighth and had a great chance to regain the lead. Fleck hit a one-out double and moved to third on a two-out hit by Strommen. Brady Lanoue was hit by a pitch to load the bases and was followed by another hit by pitch to Matt Bezdicek to tie the game. The rally ended with the bases loaded on a ground out.
 
WSU put two runners on base in the eighth with one out, but SMSU reliever Jeremy Stouffer worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a ground out to keep the game tied.
 
SMSU went scoreless in the ninth and was followed by the game-winning rally by WSU in the bottom half of the frame. The Warriors coaxed a leadoff walk and pushed the runner into scoring position with a sac bunt. Following another walk and a fly out for the second out, Kohnle came through with a single through the right side to plate the winning run.
 
Due to injuries and sickness, Alex Jorgensen made the start on the mound for SMSU and lasted four-plus innings, while allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits. He struck out five and walked one.
 
Spencer Rudnik tossed 3 1/3 solid innings of relief, giving up just one run on four hits with three strikeouts. Stouffer (0-3) took the loss for the Mustangs.
 
Strommen led the eight-hit offense for SMSU finishing 3 for 4 with an RBI, while Fleck was 2 for 4 with an RBI.
 
Southwest Minnesota State continues play on Wednesday with a conference doubleheader at the University of Sioux Falls with game one scheduled for 1:30 p.m.