Independent file photo SMSU’s Matt Bezdicek watches a ball during their game against the University of Mary on Saturday. SMSU will face Northern State today.

MARSHALL — The Southwest Minnesota State University baseball team (12-22, 10-21 NSIC) closes its 2021 home season today facing Northern State University (15-19, 14-16 NSIC) for a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader (7-9) at Legion Field in Marshall starting at 1:30 p.m.

•NSU, which has lost five straight games, begins play today tied for eighth in the NSIC standings. The top eight teams in the regular season standings advance to the NSIC Tournament.

•SMSU has lost a combined 10 games in NSIC play by one-run or in extra innings this season.

•SMSU will conclude the season on Friday and Saturday with a three-game series at St. Cloud State.

Game coverage

•Live video and stats for today’s games will be available at SMSUmustangs.com.

About

Northern State

•NSU is 15-19 overall, 14-16 NSIC, dropped all three games at home to St. Cloud State this past weekend and has lost five straight overall.

•Karson Hesser leads the Wolves batting .319 (29 for 91) with eight doubles and two home runs.

•Ramon Vega is hitting .310 (27 for 87) with eight doubles and five home runs.

•Through 34 games, NSU is batting .261, with 54 doubles, 25 home runs and averaging 5.1 runs per game. NSU has compiled an ERA of 5.87 in 254 2/3 innings with 268 strikeouts.

Series history vs. Northern State

•SMSU and NSU have meet 142 times since the first meeting in 1979 with SMSU holding a 97-45 advantage.

•The teams have split each of the last three doubleheaders with the last meeting on April 30, 2019, in Webster, S.D.

•This will be NSU’s first trip to Marshall since March 20, 2016.

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.

•Nathan Kuhn ranks eighth in the NSIC (league games only) in batting average at .375 (42 of 112) and 10th in on-base percentage (.463).

•John Bezdicek ranks tied for first in the NSIC in total strikeouts (63) and third in strikeouts per nine innings (13.1). He has struck out 10 more batters in three of six starts.

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

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications