LEADING OFF
•The Southwest Minnesota State University baseball team (11-7, 3-5 NSIC) resumes Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Wednesday with a doubleheader versus the University of Sioux Falls (3-19, 2-6 NSIC) in Sioux City, Iowa.
•The two games, originally scheduled to be played at Legion Field in Marshall, will now be played at Bishop Mueller Field on the campus of Briar Cliff University beginning at 12 p.m.
•SMSU is coming off a three-game sweep over Wayne State College this past Friday and Saturday in Wayne, Neb. It's the first time SMSU has swept WSC in a three-game series since 2014.
•USF recently won two of three games from Bemidji State this past Sunday and Monday in Wayne, Neb.
 
              GAME COVERAGE
•Live stats and video for both games will be available at SMSUmustangs.com.
 
        SMSU HEAD COACH
•Paul Blanchard, the all-time leader in victories at SMSU, is in his 27th and final season as head coach and has an overall record of 575-563-2, including 327-327 in conference play.
•On Feb. 19, Blanchard announced he will retire from coaching following the conclusion of the 2023 season.
•During his tenure, Blanchard has led the program to one NCAA Tournament appearance, one NSIC championship, three NSIC Tournament championships, 15 appearances in the NSIC Tournament and four 30-win seasons.
•Named the fifth coach in SMSU history on July 14, 1996, Blanchard has coached two NSIC Players of the Year, one NSIC Pitcher of the Year, 21 all-region honorees, two Academic All-Americans, one NCAA All-American and two Major League Baseball draft picks.
 
            SERIES HISTORY VS. SIOUX FALLS
•SMSU and USF have meet 28 times since the 1972 season with SMSU holding a 16-12 all-time advantage.
•USF won two of three last season played in Brandon, S.D., and have won five of the last six since 2019.    
•The teams split seven straight doubleheaders from 2013-19, until USF swept a doubleheader in Marshall in 2021 and won two of three last season.