COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA – The Southwest Minnesota State baseball team opened the 2024 season on Sunday afternoon suffering a pair of losses to St. Cloud State, 6-2 and 12-0, at Doc Ross Field on the campus of Iowa Western Community College.
Not only was it the season opening games for SMSU, it was also the NSIC opener for both teams. SCSU, which won the NSIC Tournament last spring, improves to 3-5 overall, 2-0 NSIC.
The two teams conclude the four-game series on Monday with an 11 a.m. doubleheader.
In game one, SMSU struck for the first run of the game in the third inning as senior
Isaac Nett belted a solo home run—his 15
th long ball of his career—around the right field pole to give the Mustangs a 1-0 advantage.
SMSU added to the lead in the fourth as a walk to
Max Kalenberg, a single by
Owen Latendresse and a hit by pitch to
Keenan Wenzel loaded the bases with one out.
Caleb Gardow followed with a bunt single to plate Kalenberg and make the score 2-0.
SMSU starting pitcher
Kolby Kiser held SCSU off the board until two outs in the fifth when the Huskies' Cal James belted a game-tying two-run home run.
SCSU would take the lead in the sixth as Sawyer Smith drilled a lead-off home run to make the score 3-2.
SMSU had a great chance to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the sixth, but with runners on second and third and one out, a strikeout and fly out ended the threat.
SCSU would then put the game away in the seventh with three runs on two hits and two SMSU errors to build a 6-2 lead.
Kiser (0-1) pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
Cameron Jensen fired the final 1 1/3 and allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
Chase McDaniel led SMSU's seven-hit attack with a pair of hits, while Nett,
Jake Tauer, Kalenberg, Latendresse and Gardow each collected one hit.
In game two, SCSU took advantage of seven walks and two hit batters to pull away and earn the sweep. SCSU scored a run in the first and three in the third to chase SMSU starter
Carter Petron.
SMSU reliever
Shay Endres was solid keeping the game close tossing 5 2/3 innings and allowing just one run on four hits with four strikeouts. SCSU added a single run in the seventh and then sealed the victory with a seven-run top of the ninth inning.
McDaniel had two of SMSU's five hits, while Nett, Tauer and Kalenberg each finished the nightcap with one hit.
Petron (0-1) suffered the loss tossing the first 2 1/3 innings and giving up four runs on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts.