ABERDEEN, S.D. – A pair of dominating pitching performances by freshman
Ryan Chmielewski and sophomore
Kolby Kiser helped lead Southwest Minnesota State to a doubleheader sweep over Northern State on Friday afternoon in NSIC college baseball at Fossum Field. SMSU won 6-0 in the opener behind a Chmielewski seven-inning six-hit shutout, while Kiser fired his first career nine-inning complete allowing just two hits in a 5-1 SMSU victory.
SMSU, which has won eight of its last 11 games, improves to 16-26 overall, 9-21 NSIC. NSU, which was battling for a spot in the NSIC Tournament, drops to 15-25 overall, 10-17 NSIC.
The two teams conclude the season tomorrow with a 2 p.m. nine-inning game.
In game one, Chmielewski fired his first career shutout, scattering six hits, while walking two and striking out one. Making his 11th and final start of the season, Chmielewski pitched six-plus innings for the seventh time this season and improves to 4-5.
The Mustangs out-hit the Wolves, 12-6, with
Max Kalenberg and
Kip Gronholz each collecting season-highs with three base hits.
Isaac Nett also finished with three hits and scored a pair of runs.
SMSU opened the scoring in the second taking advantage of a NSU error. With two outs,
Peyton Nash worked a walk and was followed by a bunt single by Gronholz and fielding error by the Wolves to load the bases.
Caleb Gardow smacked an RBI single up the middle to score Nash, with Gronholz thrown out at the plate.
SMSU moved the score to 2-0 in the fourth with Kalenberg leading off with a single and later scoring on a fielder's choice by
Nick Brown.
The Mustangs put the game away with a three-run fifth inning putting together a huge two-out rally. Following a double play, Jason Haase, Nett and Kalenberg singled to load the bases. Nash made it four straight singles to plate Haase, while Gronholz delivered a two-run infield single to push the score to 5-0.
SMSU added a final run in the seventh on a double-steal by Nett and Kalenberg with Nett sliding across the plate.
In game two, Kiser was in complete control as he became the first SMSU pitcher to toss a nine-inning complete game since Erik Thorvilson on April 24, 2016. Kiser allowed just two hits and struck out a career-high nine batters and did not walk a batter. He only allowed singles in the third and sixth inning and retired the Wolves in order in seven of the nine innings.
SMSU opened the scoring in the top of the first as McDaniel singled, moved to third on a double by
Jaxon Haase and scored on a bases loaded walk to Kalenberg.
The Mustangs loaded the bases again in the third and used two more bases loaded walks—by Nash and Gronholz—to push the lead to 3-0.
The lead moved to 4-0 in the sixth as
Robbie Smith stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the NSU catcher before scoring moments later on an infield RBI single by McDaniel.
NSU scored its lone run of the day in the sixth, but SMSU answered in the top of the eighth to regain a four-run lead. With two outs, Smith was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on McDaniels fourth hit of the game. Haase would come through with a two-out RBI double to give SMSU a 5-1 advantage.
Kiser would seal the victory retiring the final 10 batters he faced in improving to 2-6.
The Mustangs finished with 11 hits in game two as McDaniel was 4 for 5 with two runs scored, while Gronholz and Nett each collected two hits.
