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Eighth-inning rally pushes Mustangs over Wayne State, 4-1

Photo courtesy of Wayne State Athletic Communications SMSU outfielder Owen Latendresse connects for the game-winning hit in the Mustangs’ 4-1 road win over Wayne State in Wayne, Neb. on Saturday afternoon.

WAYNE, Neb. — Southwest Minnesota State University rallied with four runs in the bottom of the eighth, highlighted by a two-run, go-ahead single by Owen Latendresse, to earn a 4-1 victory over Wayne State College and complete a three-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference college baseball series played at Overin Field.

SMSU’s three-game sweep over Wayne State is its first since 2014 and improves SMSU to 11-7 (3-5 NSIC). Wayne State, which swept a doubleheader from Northern State earlier this week, drops to 8-14 (2-6 NSIC).

WSC starting pitcher Nathan Anderson held SMSU in check, tossing 6 1/3 shutout innings with nine strikeouts.

Wayne State, which scored its lone run in the third inning, held the one-run lead into the seventh when SMSU put together a threat to chase Anderson. Max Kalenberg started the inning with a double and following strikeout, relief pitcher Josh Kilzer, came into the game and kept SMSU scoreless with a ground out and strikeout.

SMSU starting pitcher Kolby Kiser was just as dominant as he kept the Mustangs in the game with 7 2/3 innings while recording a career-high tying 10 strikeouts.

Wayne State threatened to add to the lead in the eighth, but SMSU reliever Theo Giedd coaxed a ground out with the bases loaded to keep the game 1-0.

The Mustangs put together the game-winning rally off Kilzer in the home half of the frame as Matt Seykora doubled to start the inning and Robbie Smith was hit by a pitch moments later on a 1-2 pitch. Following a strikeout, Jason Haase singled to right field to load the bases before Latendresse delivered the go-ahead hit and made the score 2-1. The Mustangs added a third run on a throwing error before Jake Tauer came through with a big two-out run-scoring single to extend the lead to 4-1.

Giedd allowed one baserunner in the ninth, but he recorded two strikeouts and ended the game with a line-out to secure his second win of the season.

Kiser, who struck out 10 batters in just four innings in a win over Dickinson State earlier this season, allowed five hits, with one walk and one hit by batter to earn the no-decision. Giedd (2-0) tossed the final 1 1/3 innings, allowing a hit, two walks and striking out two batters.

Haase and Caleb Gardow led SMSU’s eight-hit offense with two apiece, while Latendresse, Kalenberg, Tauer and Seykora each had one.

The three-game series was initially scheduled to be played Saturday and Sunday at Legion Field in Marshall but was relocated due to poor field conditions.

SMSU continues action on Wednesday with a relocated doubleheader versus the University of Sioux Falls starting at 11 a.m. in Sioux City, Iowa, on the campus of Briar Cliff University.

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