TUCSON, Ariz. – Southwest Minnesota State opened its eight-game schedule at the Tucson Invitational on Sunday splitting a pair of games at the Kino Sports Complex. The Mustangs earned a come-from-behind 9-7 victory over the University of Jamestown to open the day before suffering an 11-1 loss in seven innings to Dakota Wesleyan.
 
In the win over Jamestown, SMSU (2-4) trailed 3-0 after four innings and 7-3 in the seventh, but rallied back with three runs in the both the seventh and eighth innings to secure the victory. Chase McDaniel delivered the game-winning hit with a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth.
 
Jamestown jumped out to a quick start with a top of the first inning three-run home run off SMSU starter Kolby Kiser.
 
The score remained 3-0 until the fifth when the Mustangs took advantage of wild Jamestown pitching. Jake Tauer started the rally with a walk and moved to second on a hit by pitch to Keenan Wenzel. Following a pitching change and two strikeouts, McDaniel was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jaxon Haase then ripped a two-run single to cut the deficit to 3-2 after five.
 
The Jimmies answered right back in the sixth taking advantage of two Mustang errors to plate a pair of unearned runs and regain the three-run advantage at 5-2.
 
The Mustangs chipped into the lead in the home half of the sixth behind a lead-off double by Isaac Nett and a sac fly from Tauer to make the score 5-3.
 
UJ added to the lead with a pair of runs in the seventh, but once again SMSU had a response. Caleb Gardow started the inning with a single and following a Jamestown fielding error the Mustangs had runners at first and second with no outs. A ground out moved both runners up before Haase followed with a walk to load the bases. Max Kalenberg then slashed an RBI single to right field to score pinch runner Brady Petron. Isaac Nett coaxed a bases loaded walk to plate another run before Peyton Nash made the score 7-6 with a sac fly.
 
In the eighth, Tauer started the rally with a single and moved to second on bunt single by Wenzel. After a fielder's choice and strikeout put runners at second and third with two outs, McDaniel lashed a 1-2 pitch into left field to plate two runs and give SMSU an 8-7 advantage. Two batters later, Kalenberg added to the lead with a run-scoring single to make the score 9-7.
 
Sam Nascak completed the victory tossing a 1-2-3 top of the ninth for his first career win. Nascak pitched two hitless innings with a pair of strikeouts and two walks.
 
Kiser tossed the first four innings and allowed three runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.
 
Gardow, Kalenberg, and McDaniel each finished with two hits to pace the Mustangs' 11-hit attack, while Haase, McDaniel and Kalenberg all closed with two RBIs.
 
In SMSU's second game of the day, DWU pushed across four runs on five hits in the top of the first off Mustang starter Ryan Chmielewski.
 
SMSU picked up one run back in the bottom of the first as Peyton Nash laced a one-out single and scored one batter later on a single by Owen Latendresse.
 
The Tigers answered right back with six more runs in the second to open a 10-1 lead and never looked back.
 
Chmielewski (0-2) pitched two innings in the loss, allowing 10 runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and threw walks.
 
Avery Stevens pitched two innings of relief allowing one run, Craig Lasley tossed two shutout innings, while Andy Andresen fired a shutout inning for the Mustangs.
 
The Mustangs finished with six hits in the game with Latendresse collecting two.
 
SMSU continues play on Monday with a rematch versus Jamestown starting at 10 a.m. CST.