Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

MARSHALL, Minn. – Chase McDaniel hit a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh to help Southwest Minnesota State rally with a dramatic come-from-behind 8-7 walk-off victory Bemidji State in game one of a doubleheader on Sunday at Legion Field. SMSU completed the sweep behind a dominate pitching performance from Ansen Dulas, who carried a one-hitter into the ninth and finished with a career-high 14 strikeouts, in an 8-1 victory.
 
SMSU has now won five straight and six of its last seven games in improving to 14-24 overall, 7-19 NSIC It was the final home games of the season for the Mustangs, which finished with a 6-3 record. It was also the final home game for Mustang seniors Andy Andresen, Sam Nascak and Hunter Krommenhoek.
 
In the opener, SMSU trailed 7-4 heading into the final inning, but used a walk, a pair of hit by pitches and three straight singles to earn its third walk-off win in its last four victories. The Mustangs rallied from deficits of 5-0 and 7-2 in the game.
 
Kip Gronholz started the game-winning rally with a walk and was followed by back-to-back hit by pitches to Robbie Smith and Keenen Wenzel. Issac Nett and Jaxon Haase both hit run-scoring singles to cut the deficit to 7-6, before McDaniel hit the game-winning base hit up the middle.
 
BSU put together a big top of the first inning plating five runs on five hits to take an early 5-0 advantage. Jack Munson hit a 2-run double in the inning, while Parker Borg smacked a 2-run homer.
 
SMSU with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first as Haase stroked an RBI single and was followed by a sac fly by McDaniel.
 
BSU (5-36, 2-25 NSIC) added to the lead in the third behind a 2-run homer from Munson to make the score 7-2.
 
The Mustangs cut into the deficit in the fifth with a pair of runs. Smith started the rally with a bunt single and moved to third a batter following a double by Wenzel. Nett brought home the first run with a sac fly, while Haase would drive home another with a ground out to cut the deficit to 7-4 after five.
 
Andy Andresen (1-1) earned his first career victory tossing a scoreless seventh inning.
 
Chmielewski tossed the first six innings for the Mustangs and allowed seven runs on 11 hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
 
Haase and Wenzel led SMSU's nine-hit offense in game one with a pair of hits, while Wenzel scored three runs. Haase and McDaniel both closed the game with three RBIs.
 
In game two, Smith started a Mustang rally in the first with a single and later moved to third on a single by Wenzel. Wenzel and Smith executed a perfect double steal for the game's first run, while Haase smacked a deep sac fly to right-center to plate Wenzel and push the SMSU advantage to 2-0 after one.
 
The Mustangs added to the lead in the second as Peyton Nash started the frame with an infield single and Kip Gronholz laid down a bunt single. Smith followed with a smash off the left-centerfield fence to make the score 3-0. Wenzel made the score 4-0 with an RBI single before Nett plated another run on a fielder's choice to give SMSU a 5-0 advantage.
 
SMSU added another run in the third behind a two-out rally. Gronholz and Caleb Gardow singled with two outs before Smith beat out an infield single to score Gronholz. The Mustangs would later load the bases but failed to add to the margin.
 
The score moved to 7-0 in the fourth as McDaniel doubled and came around to score on a line-drive RBI single by Kalenberg. SMSU pushed the lead to 8-0 in the fifth as Smith hit a triple to left-center and scored on a sac fly by Wenzel.
 
Dulas, who has now pitched six or more innings in his last three starts, was dominate on Sunday, not allowing a hit until one out bunt single in the sixth. Dulas retired 19 of 20 batters from the third through eighth innings and carried a shutout until the ninth. He finished the game tossing a career-high 8 2/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits with four walks and 14 strikeouts.
 
Smith led SMSU's offense in the nightcap with a career-high four hits, scored three runs and stole two bases. Wenzel added a career-high three hits and a pair of RBIs, while Gronholz chipped in with two hits. Every Mustang starter had at least one hit as the team finished with 15. It was the program's highest hit total since collecting 20 versus Bemidji State earlier this season in Tucson, Ariz.
 
SMSU heads back to the road on Tuesday for a doubleheader versus Minnesota Duluth starting at 1:30 p.m.