ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Southwest Minnesota State University baseball team closed out the 2022 season in style on Saturday rallying from a 3-0 deficit to earn a 6-4 victory over Northern State University and complete a three-game sweep of the weekend series at Fossum Field.
 
Max Kalenberg provided the game-winning hit snapping a 4-4 game in the top of the ninth with a two-run double.
 
SMSU, which played its first 29 games away from Marshall, closed the season winning nine of its final 12 games, which included winning two weekend series' and sweeping two doubleheaders. SMSU closed the season with an overall record of 17-26, including 10-21 NSIC.
 
Today was the final game for SMSU seniors Andy Andresen, Hunter Krommenhoek and Sam Nascak.
 
SMSU racked up 12 hits in the victory with Chase McDaniel and Kalenberg each finishing with three hits, while Jaxon Haase added two. Robbie Smith, Peyton Nash, Kip Gronholz, Andresen and Krommenhoek all added one hit apiece.
 
The Mustangs took advantage of a pair of Wolves' errors in the second inning to score the game's first run as Krommenhoek reached on an infield single to score Gronholz.
 
The Wolves would also take advantage of poor Mustang defense in the third plating three unearned runs with only one ball leaving the infield.
 
SMSU answered with a two-run fifth to tie the game at 3-3. With one out, McDaniel double and advanced to third on an infield single by Haase. Kalenberg made it 3-2 with a run-scoring single, before Gronholz came through with a clutch two-out single to tie the game at 3-3.
 
NSU (15-26, 10-18), which was fighting for a spot in the NSIC Tournament, went back in front in the sixth taking advantage of a wild pitch to score the run. With two outs, SMSU starter Ansen Dulas recorded a strikeout, but the ball bounced away allowing the batter to reach base. Following another wild pitch, the Wolves moved ahead at 4-3 with a two-out RBI single.
 
SMSU tied the game in the seventh and had a great chance to regain the lead. McDaniel, Haase and Kalenberg all singled to load the bases before Nash hit into a double play to score McDaniel and tie the game at 4.
 
The game remained tied until the ninth when Smith started the winning rally with a single. After a fly out, Smith stole second and Haase was hit by a pitch. Kalenberg then smacked a drive down the left field line to clear the bases and put SMSU back in front 6-4.
 
Kobe Lovell (2-1) pitched the final two innings, stranding a runner at second base in both the eighth and ninth inning, to secure the victory.  
 
Dulas once again had a strong start as he threw seven innings, allowing just six hits and did not allow an earned run. He struck out nine, did not issue a walk and hit one batter. Dulas pitched six or more innings in his last four starts and racked up 36 strikeouts.
 
SMSU displayed its depth during the series and the last week of the season. The team's leading hitter, Isaac Nett, missed Saturday's game due to injury, while the squad's fourth leading hitter, Keenan Wenzel, missed the series due to sickness. Owen Latendresse, who finished second on the team with five home runs, missed the season's last seven games due to injury.