Game 1 Box

Game 2 Box

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs picked up where they left off on Saturday, handing the Northern State University Wolves a pair of losses on Sunday to complete the 4-game series sweep in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference baseball action.  Like Saturday's games, Sunday's contests were held in Sioux Falls due to poor field conditions in Marshall, Minn.

 

NSU fell to 3-20 overall and 0-8 in league play with the losses, while the Mustangs improved to 8-6 on the season and a perfect 4-0 to open their conference slate.

 

Leading just 3-2 after three and a half innings of Game 1, the Mustangs exploded for eight runs – only one of which was earned – in the bottom of the fourth to blow open the game.  SMSU's Tyler Fayden led off the inning with a bunt single, then hit a grand slam in his second at bat of the inning, one of three Mustang homers in the game.

 

NSU had cut a 3-0 Mustang lead to just one run in the top half of the fourth.  Left fielder Payton McCleary reached on an error to lead off the inning.  Lucas Jung and Michael Cross then laced back-to-back doubles to the left side of the outfield, scoring both McCleary and Jung.

 

That would be as close as the Wolves would get, however, as the Mustangs raced back in front in their half of the inning.  SMSU also added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh to close out the 13-2 victory.

 

Blaze Hanson took the loss in that game, allowing just four earned runs in four innings of work.  SMSU's Jared Pick recorded a career-best nine strike-outs in his six-plus innings to pick up the win.

 

The Mustangs kept rolling in the series finale, using a 7-run first inning to burst out of the gates en-route to a 12-0 victory.  Matt Bauer aided the effort with a grand slam in that first inning, while Derick Swenson knocked out three doubles, scored twice and recorded two RBI.

 

Adam Brion went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Wolves, while Brad Rintoul picked up NSU's third hit of the game.

 

Jung took the loss on the mound for NSU, falling to 1-3 on the season.