TUCSON, Ariz. – The Southwest Minnesota State University baseball team earned its first two victories of the season on Sunday pounding out 20 hits in earning a 14-7 win over Adams State (Colo.) and then closed the day with a 4-2 win over Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) at the Kino Sports Complex.
 
In the first game of the day, Keenan Wenzel had a career-high three hits for the Mustangs, while teammate Chase McDaniel and Jaxon Haase both collected three hits. Owen Latendresse drove in a career-high five runs, while Isaac Nett had two hits, three RBIs and scored four runs.
 
SMSU (2-1) started the game strong in the top of the first as Haase and Nett hit one-out singles and Max Kalenberg was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Latendresse then drilled a 0-2 pitch to right field to score a pair of runs and put the Mustangs on top 2-0.
 
ASU (5-11) countered in the home half of the first to score a run behind three hits and a fielder's choice ground out to cut the SMSU lead to 2-1.
 
SMSU added to the lead in the third, loading the bases behind a single by McDaniel, a walk to Nett and a single by Kalenberg. The lead moved to 4-1 following another 2-run single by Latendresse and moments later Peyton Nash lashed an RBI single to put the Mustangs in front 5-1.
 
The Mustangs exploded in the fourth inning, scoring five runs on five hits. Wenzel started the rally with a single and scored one batter later on a triple by Robbie Smith. McDaniel would follow with an RBI single before Haase drilled a run-scoring double to make the score 8-1. A fielder's choice ground out by Latendresse scored another run before Peyton Nash singled home the final run of the inning to extend the lead to 10-1.
 
Leading 10-2 in the eighth, SMSU expanded the margin behind a two-run double from Nett and a bases loaded walk to Brady Petron to make the score 13-2.
 
ASU answered with a five-run eighth, but SMSU picked up another run in the ninth as McDaniel walked, stole second and later scored on a sac fly by Nett.
 
Carter Petron, a transfer from South Dakota State, made his first start in a Mustang uniform and tossed five innings in earning the victory, scattering seven hits, while allowing two runs. He struck out one and walked one in earning his first career victory. Freshman Will Baldus fired 2 2/3 innings and allowed four runs with three strikeouts, while redshirt freshman Mitchell Bouwman pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, giving up one run on two hits with one strikeout. 
 
In game two, SMSU snapped a 2-2 game in the eighth with a pair of runs to earn the victory. Kalenberg started the frame with a walk and moved to second on a single by Latendresse. Tauer followed with a perfect bunt single to load the bases. Nash then stepped to the plate and hit a grounder that was misplayed by the second baseman to allow two runs to score and put SMSU in the lead at 4-2.
 
Brady Brosz, the third Mustang pitcher of the game, came on and struck out a pair of Tiger batters to secure the victory and his first save of the season.
 
SMSU starting pitcher Ansen Dulas was outstanding in his first start of the season, allowing an unearned run in seven innings, on just two hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
 
DWU (0-5) scored the game's first run in the second inning taking advantage of an errant Dulas pick-off attempt that sailed down the first base line and allowing a runner to score from third.
 
SMSU trailed 1-0 in the fifth inning until Smith walloped a lead-off triple and later scored on a Matt Seykora sac fly to tie the game at 1-1.
 
The Mustangs took their first lead of the game in the home half of the sixth with a big two-out rally and wild Tiger pitcher. Kalenberg reached on a two-out infield single and was followed by walks to Latendresse and Tauer to load the bases before Nash coaxed a walk to put SMSU in the lead at 2-1.
 
SMSU held the lead to the eighth before DWU used a two-out RBI single off SMSU reliever Theo Giedd to make the score 2-2. Giedd would strand the go-ahead run at first with a strikeout to end the rally, setting up the SMSU game-winning rally in the bottom of the frame.
 
The Mustangs finished the game with eight hits with McDaniel collecting two hits, while Nett, Kalenberg, Latendresse, Tauer, Smith and Nick Brown all finishing with one hit.
 
SMSU continues play on Monday with another game versus Dakota Wesleyan starting at 3 p.m. CST.