MARSHALL, Minn. – Minnesota State University spoiled the home opener for the Southwest Minnesota State University baseball team on Wednesday earning a 12-3 victory in game one of a NSIC doubleheader at Legion Field. Game two was suspended due to heavy rain and lightning in the bottom of the fourth inning with MSU leading 4-0 after a three-run top of the fourth.
 
The teams will attempt to resume the game on Thursday afternoon, but no decision has been made on a location. 
 
The loss snapped SMSU's three-game winning streak with the Mustangs now 18-11 overall, 10-9 NSIC. MSU had its three-game losing streak stopped with victory and improved to 25-9 overall, 15-5 NSIC. 
 
MSU's Taesei Yashiro was outstanding in the opener as he tossed his first complete game of the season, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
 
MSU jumped to a quick 3-0 lead three batters into the game as Ryan Wickman drilled a 3-run home run over the left field fence. The Mavericks expanded the lead in the third scoring five runs, including three unearned, to make the score 8-0.
 
SMSU finally got to Yashiro in the fourth as Isaac Nett hit a one-out single to put a pair of runners on base before Max Kalenberg drilled a 3-run homer to left-center to make the score 8-3.
 
MSU countered with two runs in the fifth and added single runs in the sixth and seventh to pull away and earn its 17th straight win in the series since 2014. 
 
SMSU starter Shay Endres (2-4) lasted 2 2/3 innings and allowed eight runs (four earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Mitchell Bouwman tossed a career-high 4 1/3 innings in relief and gave up four runs on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks. 
 
MSU closed the game with 11 hits, while SMSU was limited to five. Chase McDaniel, Keenan Wenzel, Caleb Gardow also had base hits for the Mustangs.
 
SMSU will continue at home this Saturday and Sunday facing Bemidji State with Saturday's doubleheader starting at 1:30 p.m.