TUCSON, Ariz. – Ben Heichel blasted two home runs, hit a two-run, go-ahead double in the bottom eight and finished with a career-high seven RBIs to lead Southwest Minnesota State to a thrilling 13-9 victory over Mount Marty (S.D.) on Friday night at the Kino Sports Complex.

SMSU finished the night with 20 base hits and won its second straight game to improve to 3-4 overall. Mount Marty had its four-game winning streak snapped and drops to 13-5 overall.

Kip Gronholz closed the game with four hits, while Matt Bezdicek collected three hits for the Mustangs. Nathan Kuhn, Christopher Berg, Derek Smith and Brady Lanoue all finished with two hits. Kuhn and Heichel both scored three runs in the game.

Heichel is the first SMSU player since Brian Ness in 2010 to finish with seven RBIs in a game.

Teddy Broxtermann (1-2), the final of four SMSU pitchers in the game, earned the win allowing just one hit in 1 1/3 innings with three strikeouts.

The Lancers jumped to an early lead in the top of the first taking advantage of an SMSU throwing error to score an unearned run and take a 1-0 lead.

SMSU answered quickly in the home half of the first as Nathan Kuhn ripped a single and was followed by a long home run over the center field fence by Ben Heichel to put the Mustangs on top 2-1.

The Mustangs pushed the lead to 3-1 in the third as Trent Fredenburg reached on a one-out double and later scored on a clutch two-out single by Gronholz.

The Lancers cut the deficit to 3-2 with a run in the fourth, but the Mustangs in the bottom of the fourth as Berg reached in an infield single and later stole second. With two outs, Brady Lanoue hit a single up the middle to score Berg and extend the lead to 4-2 after four.

Mount Marty answered back in the sixth, using three walks and a pair of hits to plate three runs and regain the lead at 5-4.

SMSU didn’t trail for long as Kuhn reached on an error and moments later Heichel blasted a two-run bomb over the right field fence to give the Mustangs a 6-5 advantage.

MMC used a pair of hits in the top of the seventh to score a run and tie the game back up at 6-6.

The Mustangs went back ahead in the bottom of the seventh with three runs on six hits. Gronholz reached on a one-out single and sprinted around the bases on a Smith triple to right-center field. Moments later Smith scored on a throwing error by the catcher and SMSU went up 8-6. Berg kept the rally going with a single and moved to third on a single by Kuhn. Heichel then reached on a fielder’s choice to plate another run and make the score 9-6 after seven innings.

The Lancers would score three unearned runs in the top of the eighth to tie the game once again at 9-9.

SMSU would go back in front in the bottom of the eight using a hit by pitch and two walks to load the bases. Heichel then smacked a deep drive to left-center that was misplayed for a two-run double. After another walk to load the bases, Bezdicek ripped a two-run double to left-center to make the score 13-9.

Jeremiah Van De Steeg started on the mound for SMSU and pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits with four strikeouts and five walks.

Southwest Minnesota State continues play in Tucson today with a 5 p.m. CST start versus Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) at Reid Park.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications