BRANDON, S.D. – The Southwest Minnesota State University baseball team rallied from a 3-0 deficit but St. Cloud State University took advantage of a lead-off walk in the ninth inning to earn a 4-3 walk-off victory on Saturday night at Aspen Park and sweep the three-game series.
The series was relocated to Brandon due to poor field conditions and weather in St. Cloud.
SCSU, which has won eight straight and improves to 23-10 overall, 15-4 NSIC, built an early lead with solo home runs in both the first and second inning. The lead moved to 3-0 in the fifth before SMSU mounted a late-game rally to tie the game.
Keenan Wenzel started the inning with a single and moved to third on a double by
Jaxon Haase.
Max Kalenberg hit a sac fly to score Wenzel, but that was all SMSU could muster, while eventually stranding a runner at third base.
The score remained 3-1 into the eighth where SMSU rallied once again and had a great chance to take its first lead of the series. With one out, Wenzel doubled and scored on a single by Haase. Kalenberg followed with a single to move pinch runner
Ryan Chmielewski into scoring position before Owen Lantendresse tied the game with an RBI single. However, with one out and runners on first and third, the Mustangs failed to score again as a pick-off and ground out kept the game tied at 3-3.
SCSU threatened in the bottom of the eight to regain the lead, but Mustang relief pitcher
Andy Andresen coaxed a fly out with the bases loaded ending the frame.
SMSU (8-21, 1-16 NSIC) had another great chance in the top of the ninth as
Robbie Smith worked a two-out walk before
Caleb Gardow singled to put runners on the corner. SCSU worked out of the jam however with a ground out to set up the bottom of the ninth.
In the decisive inning, SCSU started the winning rally with a lead-off walk.
Kobe Lovell, the last of four SMSU pitchers, entered and recorded a pop out and a strikeout. However, a wild pitch moved the game-winning run into scoring position. Following an intentional walk, another wild pitch put runners on second and third. After another intentional walk, SCSU's Tyler Schiller delivered the game-winning single to give the Huskies the victory.
SMSU out-hit SCSU 10-9, SCSU however worked eight walks (two intentional), while SMSU had just one walk. Haase led the Mustangs going 3 for 4 (tying a career-high in hits) with an RBI, Wenzel was 2 for 5 with a pair of runs scored, while Gardow added two hits.
Ansen Dulas started on the mound for SMSU and pitched a strong six innings (tying a career-high) with six strikeouts, while allowing three runs on six hits and two walks.
Brady Petron tossed 1 2/3 shutout innings, while Andresen (0-1) suffered the loss.
SMSU will next be in action on Wednesday looking to snap its 12-game losing skid taking on Minot State University for its first home games of the season at Legion Field with a doubleheader beginning at 1:30 p.m.
