TUCSON, Ariz. – The Southwest Minnesota State baseball team opened its 10-game spring trip at the Tucson Invitational on Saturday racking up 34 runs and 35 hits in earning a doubleheader sweep over Malone (Ohio) by scores of 12-2 and 22-7.
 
SMSU improves to 4-6 overall, while MU drops to 3-7 on the season.
 
In game one, SMSU started the scoring in the top of the first as Chase McDaniel singled and moved to second on a walk to Jaxon Haase. Isaac Nett followed with a fielder's choice with the first baseman throwing the ball into left field to score McDaniel. SMSU failed to tack more on as a strikeout, ground out and strikeout ended the frame.
 
MU would answer with its own unearned run to tie the game at 1-1 after one inning of play.
 
SMSU would regain the lead in the top of the second with Caleb Gardow starting the frame with a double before Keenan Wenzel followed with a towering two-run home run.
 
The Mustangs added to the lead in the third with Owen Latendresse starting the rally with a leadoff single and later scoring on a throwing error. Wenzel would push the lead to 5-1 with an RBI single to plate Max Kalenberg.
 
The Pioneers hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third, but the Mustangs answered with a big four-run fourth. Nett opened the inning with a double off the fence and scored moments later on an RBI single by Latendresse. With two outs and a pair of runners in scoring position, Gardow came through with a clutch two-run triple, while Wenzel followed with a run-scoring single to extend the margin to 9-2.
 
SMSU pushed across another run in the fifth with two outs as Nett and Latendresse hit back-to-back triples to make the score 10-2.
 
The margin moved to 12-2 in the sixth with Jake Tauer coaxing a leadoff walk and Gardow following with a two-run blast over the center field wall.
 
The run support was plenty for SMSU starting pitcher Kolb Kiser (2-1), who allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits in six innings with four strikeouts and zero walks. Noah Cekalla finished the game striking out all three batters he faced.
 
SMSU finished the opener with 12 hits, including eight for extra-bases. Gardow and Wenzel each finished 3 for 4 with four RBIs, while Gardow scored three times. Latendresse also collected three hits, while scoring a pair of runs and driving in two runs. Nett closed the game with a pair of hits and scored twice.
 
In game two, SMSU exploded in the home half of the first, plating eight runs on eight hits. McDaniel started the inning with a single and scored on a double by Jaxson Haase. Following a sac fly by Latendresse to score Haase, Kalenberg and Jake Tauer hit RBI singles to push the score to 4-0. With two outs, Wenzel connected with an RBI triple before Hinrichsen drilled a run-scoring single. McDaniel closed the scoring with a two-run opposite field home run over the left field fence to make the score 8-0.
 
MU pushed across a run in the second, but SMSU answered in the bottom of the inning with RBI doubles by Kalenberg and Gardow to give the Mustangs a 10-1 lead.
 
MU cut into the lead with a big two-out rally in the third, belting a three-run and two-run home run to cut the deficit to 10-6.
 
SMSU came back in the bottom of the third with McDaniel hitting a one-out double and scoring on an RBI hit by Haase to build an 11-6 lead after three.
 
SMSU added to the advantage in the fourth behind a walk from Gardow, an RBI triple from Wenzel and a bunt by Hinrichsen that was misplayed by the pitcher to allow another run to score and give the Mustangs a 13-6 lead.
 
Leading 13-7 in the fifth, the Mustangs put the game away with a nine-run inning, while collecting six hits. Wenzel delivered the big hit in the frame with three-run double, while Nett would later drill a two-run single.
 
It is the first time SMSU has scored 20 or more runs since the 2022 season versus Bethany Lutheran.
 
Nett closed the game 4 for 5 with two runs and two RBIs. Kalenberg and Wenzel each added three hits with Wenzel driving in five runs, while Kalenberg had four RBIs. McDaniel finished with three hits and four runs scored while Haase closed with three hits, four RBIs and three runs scored.
 
Ryan Chmielewski (1-1) picked up his first win of the season tossing four innings and scattering 10 hits, while allowing six run. He struck out three and walked two. Cameron Jensen allowed one run in two innings with three strikeouts, while Hayden Molva closed the game firing a scoreless seventh.
 
SMSU continues play on Sunday with a 2 p.m. CST game versus Adams State (Colo.).