WAYNE, Neb. – The Southwest Minnesota State University baseball team split its double header with the Wayne State College Wildcats.
 
Chase McDaniel began the game on a high note for the Mustangs, with a triple to right center, McDaniel became only the fourth player in SMSU baseball history to reach 200 career hits. After an Isaac Nett walk, Owen Latendresse brought in McDaniel with a sacrifice bunt.
 
In the bottom of the first, the Wildcats tied things up with a run of their own, off of a double from Colin Lynam.
 
Each team was held scoreless in the second, third and fourth innings.
 
In the top of the fifth inning, Peyton Nash was able to reach on a walk, before advancing to second on a wild pitch and advancing to third on a groundout from Jake Tauer. A single by McDaniel brought in Nash to put the Mustangs up 2-1. Nett followed up the RBI single with a two-run home run to right center, giving SMSU a 4-1 lead.
 
The Wildcats would answer in the bottom of the fifth, scoring on a fielder's choice, an RBI double and a sacrifice fly, to even things up at four.
 
The next few innings were scoreless, as the game headed to extra innings tied at four.
 
In the top of the eight inning, McDaniel, Nett and Wenzel all struck out. In the bottom of the eighth, the Mustangs got a pair of outs, but could not put the Wildcats away, as Wayne State had a single and then a walk off double to win the game.
 
 
Game two began in a similar fashion for each team, after a McDaniel pop up, Nett walked, before being brought in by a Wenzel double to right center. The Wildcats then tied up the game in the bottom of the first with an RBI single.
 
The second inning was scoreless for each team, before the Mustangs put together a strong third inning. McDaniel got things started with a single to left center. Nett followed that up with an RBI triple. Wenzel struck out, but Owen Latendresse brought Nett in with an RBI double. Latendresse advanced to third on a Max Kalenberg ground out, before scoring on a Jaxon Haase double. Nash singled to left field, bringing in Haase, to cap a four-run inning from the Mustangs.
 
A sacrifice fly by Haase was the only scoring play in the fourth and fifth innings.
 
The Mustangs came alive in the sixth inning, Brady Petron was hit by a pitch and Jake Tauer was walked to start the inning. McDaniel cleared the bases with a home run down the right field line, to put SMSU up 9-1. Nett was hit by a pitch and Cody Wichmann came in to run for him. Latendresse doubled down the right field line. After a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly, the Mustangs took an 11-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
Shay Endres held the Wildcats scoreless after the first inning and completed the game for the Mustangs. Endres struck out seven, only allowing five hits in the game for the Mustangs.
 
The Mustangs will return to action on Saturday, when they travel to face the Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles, with the doubleheader set to start at 1:30.