Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State baseball team has had plenty of heartbreaking losses this season but on 'Senior Day' the Mustangs were able to rally from a pair of deficits to earn a 6-5 victory in 10 innings over the University of Mary on Sunday in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action at Legion Field.
 
The victory snapped a six-game losing streak for the Mustangs which improves to 12-22 overall, 10-21 NSIC. UMary, battling for a spot in the eight-team NSIC Tournament, drops to 17-17 overall, 14-13 NSIC.
 
SMSU scored the game-winning on a throwing error by the UMary shortstop to allow Brodie Smith to cross the plate. Brodie Smith started the rally with a one-out walk. Derek Smith then hit a ground ball up the middle that was misplayed allowing Brodie Smith to reach second base. As the play continued, the shortstop attempted to throw out Derek Smith at first base, but the ball sailed into the dugout and allowed Brodie Smith to score from second base.
 
Shawn Williams (2-3), the final of four SMSU relievers, earned the victory tossing two shutout innings with a pair of strikeouts.
 
SMSU, which left 19 runners on base in a 10-inning loss to UMary on Saturday night, stranded 13 runners on Sunday. The Mustangs closed Sunday's game with 12 hits with Jake Hendricks finishing 3 for 5 with an RBI, while Hunter Krommenhoek and Brodie Smith each collecting two hits with Smith also scoring three runs.
 
UMary scored two runs on two hits in the top of the first but SMSU answered in the home half of the frame. Brodie Smith started the rally with a bloop double and was followed by a walk to Derek Smith. A fly out moved Brodie Smith to third before Jake Hendricks ripped an RBI single to right field to score SMSU's first run. SMSU would later tie the game on a two-out fielding error by the first baseman on a ball hit by Max Kalenberg.
 
The Marauders went back in front with the long ball in the top of the sixth as Derek Shoen drilled a three-run homer off Mustang reliever Sam Nascak to make the score 5-2. UMary finished the three-game series hitting six home runs, while SMSU was held to zero.
 
The Mustangs came right back to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth and had a great chance to take the lead. Krommenhoek walked to start the inning and Kip Gronholz followed with a single. Following a pitching change, Brodie Smith smacked a run-scoring double to trim the lead to 5-3. Derek Smith made it 5-4 with an RBI single and one batter later Nathan Kuhn lofted a sac fly to tie the game at 5-5. Hendricks stepped up and smashed a double down the right field line to put runners at second and third with one out, but back-to-back strikeouts kept the game tied at 5 after six innings.
 
UMary would threaten in the eighth loading the bases with two outs but Brodie Smith made a spectacular running catch crashing into the center field fence to keep the game tied.
 
SMSU used another run-saving catch to end the ninth as Hendricks made a two-out diving catch to end the inning with a runner on first.
 
Hayden Molva made the start on the mound for the Mustangs and pitched 5 1/3 innings allowing four runs on seven hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
 
Southwest Minnesota State will conclude its home season on Wednesday taking on Northern State at Legion Field with a doubleheader starting at 1:30 p.m. SMSU will close the season on Friday and Saturday with a three-game series at St. Cloud State.