SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. – Minot State collected 12 hits and took advantage of seven Southwest Minnesota State errors to score six unearned runs and earn a 10-5 victory in NSIC baseball on Friday at Voss Field.
Due to poor weather conditions, the second game of the day was canceled. SMSU, which had its four-game winning streak snapped, earned the series victory after winning both games on Thursday in Wayne, Neb.
SMSU is now 10-9 overall, 4-7 NSIC, while MSU improves to 8-13, 5-6 NSIC.
SMSU scored the first run of the game in the second inning taking advantage of three MSU errors to load the bases before
Jake Tauer worked a bases loaded walk to give SMSU a 1-0 lead.
MSU tied the game with a run in the third and then scored five runs, four unearned in the fourth, to build a 6-1 lead.
SMSU rallied in the fifth with
Keenan Wenzel collecting SMSU's first hit of the game with a leadoff single, before Tauer drilled a single to right field to put runners on the corners. A sac fly by
Chase McDaniel plated the first run of the inning before
Isaac Nett hammered a two-run home run over the right-center field fence to cut the deficit to 6-4. SMSU would later put two runners on base with one out, but a ground out and strikeout ended the rally.
The Beavers answered with two big runs in the sixth and added another in the eighth to extend the margin to 9-4.
The Mustangs fought back in the eighth, loading the bases behind a two-out rally. Infield hits from Wenzel and Tauer and a walk to McDaniel to loaded the bases. A wild pitch scored one run, before Nett walked to reload the bases. The rally ended however on a strikeout on a 3-2 pitch with the tying run at the plate.
Tauer finished the day 3 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Wenzel had two hits and scored twice.
Ryan Chmielewski (2-2) suffered the loss tossing the first 3 2/3 innings and allowing six runs (two earned) on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
Ansen Dulas struck out eight in 4 1/3 innings of relief, while allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits.
SMSU is scheduled to return to action next Friday and Saturday with a four-game series at Bemidji State. The series is expected to be relocated with location announced early next week.