TUCSON, Ariz. – Keenan Wenzel had three hits, including a single, double and triple and drove in six runs to pace Southwest Minnesota State University to a 17-9 victory over Dakota Wesleyan University (S.D.) in college baseball on Monday afternoon at the Kino Sports Complex.
The victory was the third straight for SMSU which improves to 3-1 overall.
Max Kalenberg collected a career-high four hits and scored five runs for the Mustangs, while
Jaxon Haase had three hits and two RBIs.
Owen Latendresse closed the game with four RBIs and scored three runs, while
Robbie Smith also scored three times.
Wenzel is the first Mustang since Ben Heichel on March 6, 2020, to record six RBIs in a game, while Kalenberg is the first Mustang to score five runs in a game since Nick Rohne in 2004. The five runs scored in a game ties a program single-game record which was done seven previous times.
SMSU finished the game with 17 hits with five players recording multi-hit games.
SMSU opened the scoring in the top of the first as
Isaac Nett and Kalenberg had two-out singles and were followed by a two-run triple from Latendresse.
The Mustangs moved the lead to 3-0 in the second as Smith reached via error, moved to second on a single by
Keenan Wenzel and scored on a clutch two-out run-scoring hit by
Jaxon Haase.
SMSU pushed across two more runs in the third to make the score 5-0 as Smith was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, while another scored on a double play.
The Tigers took advantage of a Mustang throwing error to plate two unearned runs in the third, but SMSU answered back in a big way in the fourth to add to the lead.
With runners on the corners and one out, Latendresse hit a grounder to second that was misplayed to allow one run to score. Following a line out and then a walk to Smith to load the bases, Wenzel smacked a bases-clearing double to left-center to extend the margin to 10-2.
DWU countered back in the home half of the fourth to score three runs and cut the deficit in half to 10-5 after four innings.
DWU threatened to cut into the SMSU lead in the fifth, putting runners on the corner with one out, but SMSU's
Kobe Lovell came in relief of starter
Kolby Kiser and picked-off the runner at first and then coaxed a fly ball to end the frame.
SMSU got the bats going once again in the sixth scoring four runs to push the lead to 15-5. Kalenberg ripped his third hit of the game to start the frame and with one out,
Jake Tauer and Smith walked to load the bases. Wenzel stepped to the plate and ripped a hit to left field that got by the left fielder to score all three runners and allowed Wenzel safely into third base for his second career triple. Wenzel would score two batters later on a
Chase McDaniel fielder's choice before Haase drilled an RBI double.
DWU would keep the game going with a four-run seventh inning before SMSU added two more runs in the ninth on an RBI single by Latendresse and an RBI ground out by Tauer.
Kiser lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.
Lovell (1-0) earned the victory tossing 2 1/3 innings, allowing two runs, while striking out three, walking one and giving up one hit.
Craig Lasley tossed the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and two runs (one earned).
SMSU will return to play on Tuesday with 5:30 p.m. CST non-conference game versus Bemidji State University at the Kino Sports Complex.
