Photo courtesy of SMSU Athletic Communications SMSU’s Isaac Nett scores the eventual game-winning run in the fifth inning during their game against Minnesota Duluth on Thursday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

MINNEAPOLIS — The Southwest Minnesota State baseball team picked up its first win of the season on Thursday splitting a non-conference doubleheader with Minnesota Duluth inside US Bank Stadium. SMSU won the opener 5-4, before UMD pushed across two runs in the bottom of the sixth to earn a 6-4 victory in game two.

In game one, SMSU started the scoring in the bottom of the first as Robbie Smith started the rally with a lead-off triple and scored on a sac fly by Chase McDaniel. Jaxon Haase followed with a walk and moved to third one batter later on a double by Max Kalenberg. A walk by Isaac Nett loaded the bases before Owen Latendresse pushed across another run with a sac fly and giving SMSU a 2-0 lead.

SMSU (1-3) maintained the lead until the fifth when UMD tied the score. Following a one-out double, the Bulldogs scored their first run on a fly ball that was lost in the sky/roof and dropped for an RBI triple. A fielder’s choice one batter later tied the game at 2-2.

The game wasn’t tied for long as SMSU answered with three runs in the home half of the fifth. With one out, Haase walk and Kalenberg followed by reaching base on a throwing error. Nett came through with a single up the middle to score Haase and put SMSU in the lead at 3-2. After a ground out put runners on second and third, Jake Tauer dropped in a clutch two-run single to extend the lead to 5-2.

The Bulldogs would have their first two batters reach in the sixth, but SMSU freshman pitcher Cameron Jensen worked out of the jam with a fly out and two strikeouts.

UMD (0-2) would threaten again the seventh, pushing across two runs to make the score 5-4, and had the tying run on second with one out. Jensen however battled through once again and ended the game with a fly out and a strikeout to secure the victory.

Hayden Molva started on the mound for the Mustangs and tossed four shutout innings allowing three hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

Avery Stevens earned the victory in relief tossing one inning, while Jensen recorded his first career save.

SMSU finished the opener with five hits with Smith, Haase, Kalenberg, Nett and Tauer each collecting one.

In game two, the Mustangs jumped on the board in the top of the first with McDaniel and Haase collecting one-out singles before Nett delivered a two-out RBI single to score McDaniel.

After UMD left the bases loaded in the first, SMSU added to the lead in the second pushing across another run. Keenan Wenzel started the rally with a one-out single and later scored on two-out run-scoring single by McDaniel.

UMD would move into the lead in the third scoring four runs with the use of four hits and a hit batter to build a 4-2 advantage.

SMSU rallied in the fifth as McDaniel started the frame with a single and sprinted around the bases moments later on an RBI double by Kalenberg. Following a wild pitch to move Kalenberg up 90-feet, Nett dropped in a game-tying single to center to make the score 4-4.

SMSU put together a rally in the sixth but failed to score leaving a pair of runners on base.

UMD would go back in front in the bottom of the sixth taking advantage of a one-out walk and then a pair of two-out run-scoring hits to push across two runs.

The Mustangs would attempt another rally in the seventh with a lead-of double by Haase and a two-out walk to Hunter Krommenhoek, but a strikeout ended the comeback attempt.

SMSU freshman pitcher Theo Giedd was outstanding in relief retiring the first 10 batters he faced until a one-out walk in the sixth. He would suffer the loss allowing two runs on one hit with one strikeout.

Ansen Dulas made the start on the mound for SMSU and lasted 2-plus innings, allowing three runs on six hits, while striking out two, walking two and hitting two batters.

The Mustangs finished the game with 11 hits and left nine men on base. McDaniel finished 3 for 4 with two runs scored and RBI, while Haase, Nett and Wenzel all closed with two hits each.

SMSU continues non-conference play on Sunday with the first of eight games in Tucson, Ariz. The Mustangs open the trip taking on the University of Jamestown starting at 12 p.m. CST.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications