DULUTH, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State baseball team suffered another tough loss on Sunday afternoon with Minnesota Dulut rallying from a 5-2 seventh inning deficit to earn a 7-5 victory at Wade Stadium.
 
UMD, which won two of three in the weekend series, improves to 16-29 overall, 15-18 NSIC, while SMSU drops to 20-26 overall, 10-24 NSIC.
 
SMSU starting pitcher Tyler Nesheim worked out of several early jams to toss a career-high 6 2/3 innings, including holding the Bulldogs scoreless in the middle three innings. UMD however rallied in the seventh to regain the lead and the eventual victory. After retiring the first batter he faced in the frame, Nesheim allowed back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases and put the tying run on base. Following a sac fly to cut the lead to 5-3, the Bulldogs chased Nesheim with a run-scoring hit to make the score 5-4. Lincoln Vasgaard came into the game with runners on the corners and was greeted by a two-run double by Henry Bushy to make the score 6-5. UMD would add an insurance run in the eighth to build a 7-5 lead.
 
Trailing 1-0 in the second, SMSU took its first lead of the game as Josh Berreth was hit by a pitch and later scored on a two-out triple by Lane Moline to tie the game. Brock Woitalla followed with a run-scoring hit to give the Mustangs a 2-1 advantage.
 
UMD tied the game with a run in the third, but SMSU would go back in front in the sixth plating a single run. Tyler Froland started the rally with a pinch-hit double and later scored on a sac bunt by Moline.
 
SMSU added to the lead with another two-out rally in the seventh. Connor Davis walked to open the inning before stealing second with two outs. Carter Lang drilled an RBI double to score the first run before Berreth came through with an RBI single and make the score 5-2.
 
Following UMD's rally in the seventh, SMSU had chances to tie or take the lead in the eighth and ninth innings, but stranded two runners on base in both innings.
 
Nesheim (1-4) suffered the loss allowing six runs on 10 hits with two strikeouts, two walks and two hit batters. Vasgaard allowed one run on three hits before Ryan Dalager finished up the eighth inning recording the final two outs.
 
SMSU finished the game collecting 10 hits with Woitalla and Levi Lampert each closing with two hits, while Davis walked three times.
 
SMSU will close out the 2026 season on Tuesday with a home doubleheader versus Augustana at Legion Field starting at 3:30 p.m.