OMAHA, Neb. – Minnesota State used a pair of late-inning rallies to stun Southwest Minnesota State and sweep a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference baseball games on Sunday and complete a four-game series sweep that was played at Westside High School.

MSU, ranked in the Top 10 in one preseason Top 25 poll and the favorite to win the NSIC, scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth to win 2-1 in game one, then scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to win 6-5 in game two. Three of MSU’s victories in the series were by one run.

The four games were scheduled to be played in Marshall and Mankato, but were moved due to poor weather and field conditions.

MSU is now 9-4 overall, 4-0 NSIC, while SMSU drops to 5-9 overall, 0-4 NSIC.

In game one, SMSU jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning as Connor Johnson and Spencer Rudnik hit back-to-back one-out singles. Following a strikeout, Spencer Franko hit an RBI single to put the Mustangs in the lead and snap the team’s 17-inning scoreless streak.

SMSU had a chance to add to the lead in the sixth as Jayden Fleck hit a one-out double but was stranded at third base after a ground out and a fly out.

MSU was able to breakthrough in the home half of the sixth taking advantage of two SMSU errors, a walk and a wild pitch. Mustang starting pitcher Cole Petersen walked the lead-off batter and moments later a throwing error by Petersen on a bunt attempt put runners on first and second with no outs. MSU attempted another bunt attempt but Petersen threw out the lead runner at third base for the first out. SMSU’s Teddy Broxterman came on in relief but uncorked a wild pitch to move both runners up 90-feet. MSU’s Jack Mattson then hit a sac fly to left field to tie the game at 1 with two outs. Jared Tschetter came on to pitch for SMSU and after failed pick-off attempt moved the runner to third base, Josh Wentzel delivered the go-ahead RBI single to make the score 2-1.

Both teams finished with seven hits with Fleck and Franko lead the Mustangs with two hits each.

Petersen (1-1) pitched 5 1/3 innings to take the loss, allowing two unearned runs on sixth hits and three walks with a pair of strikeouts.

In game two, SMSU jumped to an early lead as Ben Heichel and Fleck both hit RBI doubles to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Leading 2-1 in the third, Nathan Kuhn and Heichel singled to put runners on first and third. Shane Sellner hit into a double play, but Kuhn scored on the play to push the lead to 3-1.

MSU added a single run in the seventh to cut the SMSU lead to 3-2, but SMSU rallied in the top of the eighth to add to the advantage. Following a lead-off walk to Kuhn, Heichel clubbed a two-run home run to give the Mustangs a 5-2 lead. SMSU would later have two runners on base with no outs in the inning, but a double play and strikeout kept the Mustang lead at three runs.

The failed chance to add insurance runs came back to haunt the Mustangs as the Mavericks pushed across a single run in the eighth to trim the deficit to 5-3. In the bottom of the ninth, SMSU relief pitcher Shawn Williams retired the first MSU hitter, but a walk and three straight singles tied the game and put runners on the corners. Following an intentional walk, Tschetter came on to pitch and walked in the game-winning run to complete the MSU comeback.

Jeremy Stouffer pitched a solid seven innings for the Mustangs, giving up just two runs on eight hits with a career-high eight strikeouts and one walk. Williams (0-2) took the loss allowing the final three runs in 1 1/3 innings.

Heichel and Fleck each finished 3 for 4 in the game with Heichel collecting three RBIs. Kuhn had a hit, two walks and scored three runs.

SMSU closed game two with 11 hits, while MSU finished with 12 hits.

Southwest Minnesota State’s scheduled doubleheader at Northwestern College (Iowa) on Tuesday has been canceled due to poor weather. SMSU is set to resume NSIC play next Saturday and Sunday hosting Northern State in a four-game series. The series could be relocated due to field conditions.

SATURDAY

MSU Mankato 8, SMSU 0

MSU Mankato 1, SMSU 0

OMAHA, Neb. – Minnesota State, the preseason Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference favorite, used a pair of strong pitching performances to earn a doubleheader sweep over Southwest Minnesota State at Westside High School on Saturday night. It was the NSIC opening games for both teams.

MSU won the opener 8-0, before holding on for a 1-0 victory in game two.

The two games Saturday and two on Sunday were originally scheduled to be played in Marshall and Mankato respectively, but were moved to Nebraska due to poor field conditions.

SMSU, which has scored just one run in its last three games, drops to 5-7 overall, 0-2 NSIC. MSU improves to 7-4 overall, 2-0 NSIC.

In the nightcap, MSU’s Aaron Rozek, this week’ NSIC Pitcher of the Week, tossed seven shutout innings with 14 strikeouts and no walks, while scattering seven hits to earn the victory. Carlo Graffeo pitched the final two innings to earn the save, giving up one hit and one walk with three strikeouts.

SMSU freshman John Bezdicek (1-2), coming off a three-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts in his last start, was the tough-luck loser on Saturday night, recording 11 strikeouts, while allowing one run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings. Alex Jorgensen was outstanding with 3 2/3 innings of shutout relief with six strikeouts.

The Mavericks scored the game’s lone run in the top of the third using a one-out walk, stolen base and single to plate the game-winning run.

SMSU put together a rally in the eighth as Ben Heichel doubled to lead off the frame, but a strikeout and a pair of ground outs closed the threat. Spencer Rudnik worked a one-out walk in the ninth, but Graffeo sealed the win with a fly out and strikeout.

SMSU, which out-hit MSU 8-5 in game two, was led by Heichel’s 3 for 4 performance, while Sellner was 2 for 4.

In the opener, MSU All-American starting pitcher Dalton Roach, the school’s all-time recorder holder for strikeouts, improved to 3-0 with six shutout innings, allowing just one hit with eight strikeouts and one walk. Roach and Bobby Gauvreau combined to retire the final 14 batters of the game.

Connor Johnson’s single in the second inning was the lone hit for the Mustangs. SMSU’s only scoring threat came in the third inning as Derek Smith led off reaching via an error, before moving to third base on a wild pitch and ground out. Roach closed the threat with a strikeout to keep the game scoreless.

MSU broke open a scoreless game in the fourth inning pushing across five runs on five hits.

Justin Clark (1-1) took the loss for SMSU with five-plus innings of work, allowing six runs on nine hits with five strikeouts and four walks.

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