Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State cracked out a season-high 18 hits to rally back from an 8-2 deficit and earn a 14-12 victory over Bemidji State in game two of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference baseball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Legion Field. The game two win completed a sweep for the Mustangs as John Bezdicek tossed six innings in the opener with 10 strikeouts in SMSU's 12-1 victory.
 
The game one victory snapped a seven-game losing skid for the Mustangs, which improve to 9-14 overall, 7-13 NSIC.
 
In the opener, SMSU opened the game in the bottom of the first with Brodie Smith drilling a lead-off triple and was followed by a sac fly by Nathan Kuhn to put the Mustangs up 1-0.
 
SMSU added to the lead in the second as Max Kalenburg walked to start the frame and moved to third on a double by Chase McDaniel. Kip Gronholz followed with a two-run single up the middle to push the margin to 3-0. Kuhn would make the score 4-0 with a sac fly before Robbie Smith would sprint across the plate on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 5-0.
 
BSU (3-21, 2-17 NSIC) scored an unearned run in the third, but SMSU answered with two more runs in the home half to make the score 7-1 after three innings.
 
The Mustangs added three more in the fifth behind a Robbie Smith based loaded walk, while McDaniel scored on a wild pitch. The final run scored on an RBI fielder's choice by Brodie Smith.
 
McDaniel pushed across the final two runs for SMSU in the sixth with a two-run single.
 
SMSU closed the opening game with 10 hits as McDaniel and Gronholz each collected three hits and two RBIs, while McDaniel scored three runs.
 
John Bezdicek (3-1) earned the victory tossing six innings with 10 strikeouts, while allowing three hits, three walks and one unearned run. Bezdicek moved into third place all-time in the program strikeout record book during the game and how has amassed 198. He surpassed Ryan Morse (2003-05) and Pat O'Brien (2002-05), who both had 190.
 
In game two, SMSU struck first in the home half of the first as Kuhn reached on a one-out single, stole second with two outs and then scored on an RBI double by Jake Hendricks. Derek Smith followed with a run-scoring single down the right field line to make the score 2-0.
 
BSU countered in the second inning plating a run and loading the bases with no outs, but SMSU pitcher Hayden Molva struck out a pair of batters before Derek Smith picked-off the baserunner at first base to end the inning and keep SMSU in the lead.
 
The Beavers took the lead in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of a Mustang error and two walks, before Carter Simon blasted a grand slam to put BSU in the lead at 5-2.
 
BSU added to the lead in the fifth with three runs on three hits, two walks and a hit batter to push the lead to 8-2.
 
SMSU had a big answer in the home half of the fifth to get back into the game. McDaniel and Gronholz singled before Robbie Smith walked to load the bases. Following a strikeout, Kuhn dropped in an RBI single and was followed by a bases-clearing double by Matt Bezdicek to make the score 8-6. Two batters later, Derek Smith drove in Bezdicek with an infield hit to trim the deficit to 8-7.
 
SMSU would regain the lead in the bottom of the sixth collecting four hits, including a clutch two-out single by Kuhn. Kalenburg started the rally with a double and moved to third on a McDaniel single. Gronholz followed lacing a game-tying single to plate Kalenburg. Following a sac bunt to move runners in scoring position and a strikeout, Kuhn put SMSU back in the lead with a line drive single to centerfield.
 
SMSU maintained the lead until the eighth when BSU tied the game on a sac fly and two-out RBI single.
 
The game wasn't tied for long as SMSU earned the victory scoring four times in the bottom of the eighth. Gronholz started the winning rally with a single to left field and advanced to second on a 3-2 sac bunt by Robbie Smith. Brodie Smith launched a double over the right fielder's head, but Gronholz could only advance 90 feet. Following an intentional walk to Kuhn to load the bases, Matt Bezdicek hit an infield single in the hole at shortstop to put SMSU in the lead. Hendricks followed beating out a double play ball to score Brodie Smith and give the Mustangs a 12-10 lead. Moments later, Kuhn scored on a passed ball and Derek Smith crushed an RBI double to left field to move the lead to 14-10.
 
The extra runs came in big as BSU wouldn't go down without a fight and plated two runs on two hits in the ninth, but SMSU pitcher Jared Tschetter coaxed a fly out to end the game with the tying run at the plate.
 
Kuhn and Derek Smith had a huge games at the plate in game two with both finishing with four hits and three RBIs, while Kuhn scored three times. Gronholz was 3 for 4 with an RBI and three runs scored, while Matt Bezdicek and McDaniel each had two hits. It was the second time this season Bezdicek finished with four RBIs in a game.
 
Shawn Williams (1-3) tossed a solid 3 1/3 innings of relief to pick up the win for the Mustangs. He allowed two runs and three hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
 
Hayden Molva made the start on the mound for SMSU and lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs (four earned) on 10 hits with a career-high six strikeouts and two walks.
 
The two teams conclude the series tomorrow with a 12 p.m. game at Legion Field.