Blanchard Through the Years at SMSU...
1997
In his first season, Blanchard leads SMSU to a school record 31 wins and the NSIC tournament championship. SMSU finishes the season with a 31-13 mark overall, 10-6 NSIC.
The .705 team winning percentage is the best in school history.
The Mustangs break seven team records during the course of the season. SMSU sets team records for runs scored (371), batting average (.343), and RBI (330).
The Mustang defense improved dramatically, as SMSU sets school records for double plays turned (52), fewest errors (52), and fielding percentage (.962).
Chad Funk, Chris Pack, Dan Smith, and Mark Lickfelt all named All-NSIC.
1998
The Mustangs set another school record for wins with 33. SMSU finished 33-16, 14-6 NSIC and just misses their first NCAA tournament berth.
SMSU finishes second in the NSIC and loses in the championship game of the conference tournament.
Shortstop Mark Lickfelt sets a school record for hits in a season with 64 and also breaks the school's all-time hit. He finished his career with 205 hits.
Chris Pack finished the season with a school record nine wins.
Chris Pack (first team) and Mark Lickfelt (second team) become the first ever Mustangs to earn NCAA II All-Central Region honors.
Southwest broke three more school records, including doubles (94) and base hits (468).
Dan Smith, Chris Pack, Mark Lickfelt, Jeremy Werner, and Matt Hanson named All-NSIC.
1999
SMSU finishes 28-16-1, 15-7 NSIC, completing their third straight winning season, the first in school history.
Southwest played for the regular season NSIC championship during the last game of the season but fell to league champion Minnesota-Duluth in the season finale.
Mustangs go 3-0 in NSIC tournament to claim their third NSIC tournament championship in four seasons.
Highlighting the season were wins over nationally ranked SIU-Edwardsville and Indianapolis
SMSU just misses its first NCAA tournament bid, falling one spot short of a region invite.
Jeremy Hebl (first team) and Brad Stromdahl (second team) earn all-region honors.
Jeremy Hebl, David Darr, Brad Stromdahl, Dan Smith named first team All-NSIC.
2000
Southwest finished the season 25-18, 12-4 NSIC, good for second place.
SSU takes second place in the NSIC tournament.
B.J. Richter sets school records for saves (11) and appearances (34).
Richter (first team) and Jeremy Hebl (second team) earn all-region honors.
Dan Smith, Matt Hanson, Jeremy Hebl, B.J. Richter, and Matt Tiggas named first team All-NSIC.
2001
Southwest finished 21-18, 11-4 NSIC, which is a school-best sixth straight winning season
SMSU hits team record 50 home runs.
SMSU hit seven home runs in a game twice, setting a new school record
SMSU tied school record with 24 runs scored in win over Minnesota-Morris
Matt Tiggas named NSIC Player of the Year
Mike Negen named NSIC Newcomer of the Year
Matt Tiggas, Ryan Dalum, Derrick Jenniges, Marc Craigmile, Mike Negen and Joe Westphal named first team All-NSIC
Matt Tiggas named first team all-region
2002
Southwest ends season 31-19, 18-6 NSIC, wins NSIC championship by winning four straight games in NSIC tournament
SMSU wins fourth NSIC tournament since the tournament began in 1996
SMSU records third 30-plus win season in school history
Chris Monaco, Travis Irwin, Jacob Swartout, T.J. Schmidt and Pat O'Brien named first team All-NSIC
Pat O'Brien named NSIC Pitcher of the Year
SMSU sets school record with 112 doubles
Travis Irwin (first team) and Pat O'Brien (second team) named all-region
2003
Southwest Minnesota State ends season 27-20, 16-6 NSIC
The 27 wins are tied for the fifth most in one season in school history
SMSU had five wins against Top 30 teams
SMSU led the conference in batting average, runs and doubles
Team batting average of .330 was second best in school history
Junior Brendan Rokke named second team CoSIDA Academic All-America
Scott Becker, Craig Braaten, Jeff Groebner, Brad Hundt, Ryan Morse and Nick Rohne named first team All-NSIC
2004
Southwest Minnesota State finished 30-22, 17-11 NSIC
Recorded the fourth 30-win season in school
SMSU's .334 team batting average is second best in school history
SMSU's 510 hits sets new school record
SMSU received votes for NCBW Top 25 poll on April 30
Craig Braaten, Nick Rohne, Colby Pack and Ryan Morse named first team All-NSIC
Senior Brendan Rokke named first team CoSIDA Academic All-America
2005
Southwest Minnesota State finishes season 26-22, 12-10 NSIC
SMSU finishes second in NSIC, losing to Wayne State in finals of NSIC championship tournament
Ryan Morse becomes second SMSU player ever drafted by a MLB team as he was selected in the 13th round by Tampa Bay
Colby Pack becomes the program's first ever NCAA All-America, earning third team honors from the ABCA
Ryan Morse, Colby Pack, Derek Rignell and Nathan Koppi named first team All-NSIC
Colby Pack named NSIC Player of the Year
Colby Pack (first team), Ryan Morse (second team) and Derek Rignell (second team) earn all-region honors
SMSU sets new school record with 52 home runs
2006
Southwest Minnesota State finishes season 20-30, 10-8 NSIC, fourth place
SMSU finishes third in NSIC tournament, losing to Concordia in semifinals
John Goneau and Colby Pack named first team All-NSIC
Colby Pack named second team CoSIDA Academic All-District
2007
Southwest Minnesota State finishes season 26-16, 17-7 NSIC, third place
Nathan Koppi named second team all-region
Ryan Norman named first team CoSIDA Academic All-District
Greg Laughlin named second team Academic All-District
SMSU ties school record with .962 fielding pct.
SMSU sets school record for fewest errors with 51
2008
Southwest Minnesota State finishes season 24-20, 14-12 NSIC, fourth place
Greg Laughlin named first team Daktronics all-region
Brandon Wilhelmi named second team ABCA all-region
Brandon Wilhelmi named first team All-NSIC
Greg Laughlin named first team CoSIDA Academic All-District
2009
Southwest Minnesota State finishes season 28-15, 16-10 NSIC, fourth place
SMSU qualifies for NCAA Tournament, finishing with 1-2 record
Senior Derek West named honorable mention All-America by the NCBWA and Daktronics. Junior Andrew Kinney named honorable mention All-America by NCBWA.
Derek West and Andrew Kinney both named first team ABCA all-region
Greg Laughlin named third team Academic All-America
SMSU set school record for batting average, runs scored, home runs, RBI, total bases and slugging pct.
2010
Southwest Minnesota State finishes season 29-18 overall, 22-10 NSIC, fourth place
SMSU's 29 victories ranks fifth highest in school history
SMSU advances to championship game of NSIC tournament
SMSU pitcher Adam Schrader selected in 39th round of MLB draft by San Diego Padres
SMSU first baseman Andrew Kinney signs free agent contract with Cleveland Indians
Junior Cody Curry named first team all-region, while senior Adam Schrader and Matt Bauer both named second team all-region
Seniors Derick Swenson and Adam Schrader both named second team Academic All-District
2011
Southwest Minnesota State finishes season 11-25, 7-18 NSIC, 11th place
SMSU misses NSIC tournament for first time in school history; was only NSIC program to qualify for every tournament since inception in 1996
Tyler Fayden named second team All-NSIC
Adam Thygesen named second team CoSIDA Academic All-District
SMSU played in seven extra-inning games, including 16, 15 and 12-inning games
2012
Southwest Minnesota State finishes season 22-23 overall, 12-18 NSIC, 9th place
SMSU was 21-13 in late April, but lost 10 of final 11 games and has four canceled, missing the NSIC tournament
Chris Eichten (first team) and Adam Thygesen (third team) named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans
Split road doubleheader with No. 7 ranked St. Cloud State
Team ranked eighth in the country in double plays turned per game
Earned 400th career victory on March 20 versus Augustana
2013
Southwest Minnesota State finishes season 17-23-1, 11-13 NSIC, 10th place
Steven Kremer and Kyle Young both named all-region
SMSU did not play a single home game for first time in school history
SMSU had eight games canceled
2014
Southwest Minnesota State finishes season 27-23 overall, 17-14 NSIC, 7th place
The 27 victories ties for the eighth most in program history
SMSU beat nationally ranked foes, Missouri Western and Minnesota State
SMSU advanced to the NSIC tournament for the first time since 2010
Patrick Rients sets school record for home runs and earns All-American honors
Reints named first team All-NSIC and NSIC Newcomer of the Year, while Jon Ellis named second team All-NSIC
Rients named Academic All-District
2015
Southwest Minnesota State finishes season 21-29 overall, 14-20 NSIC, 9th place
SMSU beat nationally ranked No. 2 St. Cloud State
Austin Stubbs named second team all-region
SMSU finished with 54 home runs and 107 doubles, both ranking second in school history
2016
Southwest Minnesota State closes the season 9-34 overall, 7-21 NSIC, 13th place
Rebuilding season with a team featuring just three seniors
2017
Southwest Minnesota State finishes season 15-33 overall, 10-28 NSIC, 14th place
Blanchard records 500th career victory on May 5 versus Minnesota Crookston
SMSU lost four games via walk-off
2018
Southwest Minnesota State closes the season 17-23 overall, 12-18 NSIC, 11th place
Played only four home games -- last four games of the season
SMSU finished the season 3-9 in one-run games
SMSU's first games played in Minnesota came on April 21
SMSU junior Jayden Fleck named CoSIDA Academic All-American
2019
Southwest Minnesota State finishes season 11-27 overall, 10-23 NSIC, 13th place
SMSU suffered eight one-run losses during the season
SMSU played just five home games with all played at Legion Field
SMSU defeated No. 10 St. Cloud State on May 4 in Marshall
SMSU senior Jayden Fleck named CoSIDA Academic All-District for the second straight season
2020
Southwest Minnesota State finished the season 6-5. Season was canceled in March due to COVID-19
SMSU opened the season losing three games at No. 17 Missouri Southern
SMSU won six of its final eight games and won five of six games during Tucson trip
SMSU junior John Bezdicek was named CoSIDA Academic All-District
2021
Southwest Minnesota State finishes season 12-22 overall, 10-21 NSIC, 15th place
SMSU suffered 11 one-run or extra-inning losses on the season
SMSU defeated No. 19 Augustana and No. 24 Minnesota Crookston both on the road
Final five games of the season were canceled due to COVID-19 protocols
2020
Southwest Minnesota State finished the season 17-26 overall, 10-21 NSIC, 13th place
SMSU lost 18 of its first 19 NSIC games, but won nine of its last 12 games of the season
SMSU won six of its eight games during Tucson trip, including winning five in a row
SMSU sophomore Isaac Nett earned first team All-NSIC
