Independent file photo SMSU’s Jake Wensmann delivers a pitch during their game against Bemidji State on April 18. SMSU will face the University of Mary this weekend.

MARSHALL — The Southwest Minnesota State University baseball team (11-20, 9-19 NSIC) looks to snap a four-game losing skid hosting the University of Mary (15-16, 12-12 NSIC) for a three-game series at Legion Field in Marshall.

•Today’s doubleheader (7-9) begins at 1:30 p.m. with Sunday’s game set with first pitch at 12 p.m.

•It will be the final three-game home series for SMSU this season.

•Prior to Sunday’s game, the SMSU baseball program will honor its 14 seniors.

•SMSU will conclude the season next Wednesday hosting Northern State, before closing the season with a three-game series at St. Cloud State on May 7-8.

Game coverage

•Live video and stats for all three games will be available at SMSUmustangs.com.

About UMary

•UMary is 15-16 overall, 12-12 NSIC, after losing two games at Bemidji State, 6-4 and 13-8, on Wednesday.

•Calvin James leads the Marauders batting .339 (37 for 109) with 10 doubles, six home runs and 25 RBIs.

•Derek Shoen is hitting .321 (34 for 106) with eight doubles and five home runs.

•Through 31 games, UMary is batting .255, with 45 doubles, 35 home runs, averaging 5.4 runs per game and have a team ERA of 6.16 in 238 1/3 innings with 245 strikeouts.

Series history

vs. UMary

•SMSU and UMary have meet 31 times since the first meeting in 2007 with SMSU holding a 22-9 advantage.

•UMary won two of three games in Bismarck, N.D., on April 26-27, in the last meeting.

•SMSU swept a four-game series versus UMary in 2017 during the last games played in Marshall.

SMSU

diamond notes

•SMSU has two wins over nationally-ranked teams this season with both coming on the road. SMSU earned a 10-8 win at No. 19 Augustana and an 8-7, 10-inning win at No. 24 Minnesota Crookston.

•Following SMSU’s 6-5 loss to Minnesota Duluth on Thursday, SMSU has lost 10 one-run games this season, including nine in NSIC play.

•In his last 11 games, Derek Smith has raised his batting average more than 100 points, hitting .485 (17 for 35) with three home runs, four doubles and eight RBIs.

•Nathan Kuhn ranks seventh in the NSIC (league games only) in batting average at .386 (39 of 101).

•John Bezdicek ranks second in the NSIC in strikeouts per nine innings (12.5). He has struck out 10 more batters in three of five starts.

•SMSU ranks third in the NSIC in fielding percentage (.968).

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications