TUCSON, Ariz. – Southwest Minnesota State's
Caleb Gardow snapped a 4-4 deadlock in the eighth inning with a two-run triple to help lead the Mustangs to a 6-5 victory over Malone University (Ohio) in college baseball on Saturday morning at the Kino Sports Complex.
The victory lifts SMSU's record to 7-2 overall and avenges a 6-4 loss to Malone on Thursday. The Pioneers drop to 9-5 overall.
SMSU finished the game with 11 hits with
Keenan Wenzel leading the charge with three hits and scoring the game-winning run.
Chase McDaniel,
Isaac Nett and
Robbie Smith all collected two hits for the Mustangs.
The Mustangs jumped on the board early plating a pair of first inning runs.
Jake Tauer started the game with an eight-pitch walk and moved to third on a double by McDaniel. Tauer would score on a sac fly from
Jaxon Haase, while McDaniel came across on a ground ball by Nett that was misplayed at first base.
The Pioneers would rally with a single run in the third and two in the fourth to take a 3-2 advantage after four innings.
SMSU answered in the top of the fifth as McDaniel singled with one out and moved to second after Haase was hit by a pitch. Nett followed with a run-scoring single to plate McDaniel and make the score 3-3.
SMSU went back in front in the sixth as Smith and Wenzel started the frame with singles. With runners on the corners and one out,
Jackson Bates laid down a bunt and Smith beat the play at the plate to put the Mustangs in front, 4-3.
MU rallied in the seventh using a two-out double followed by a triple to tie the game off SMSU relief pitcher,
Brady Petron.
SMSU quickly went back in front in the eighth as Smith lofted a one-out fly ball that was lost in the sun by the left fielder for a double. Wenzel reached base via infield single to put runners on the corners before Gardow hammered a ball down the left field line that bounced away from the left fielder for a two-run triple and a 6-4 advantage.
The Pioneers put together a rally in the ninth off Mustang pitcher
Brady Brosz, who fired a scoreless eighth inning to keep the Mustangs with a two-run cushion. Malone had runners on the corners with no outs, but Brosz recorded a strikeout for the first out, while MU scored on a double steal attempt. Following a hit batter put runners on first and second, Brosz picked up another strikeout before coaxing a fly out to end the game on a nice running catch by Tauer in right field.
Ryan Chmielewski made his second start of the season and completed six innings with six strikeouts and two walks, while allowing three runs on seven hits. Petron picked up the win with one inning of work, while Brosz earned his second save firing two innings with three strikeouts and allowed one unearned run.
SMSU will have Sunday off before closing its 10-game trip on Monday with an 11 a.m. CDT match-up versus Dickinson State (N.D.).
