Marshall, Minn. – After a day of cancelled games on Monday, the Northern State University baseball team recorded a Tuesday sweep of Southwest Minnesota State University. The Wolves improve to 9-5 overall and 2-0 in the NSIC, while the Mustangs drop to 2-15 on the year and 0-2 in the league.
 
Game 1
 
The Wolves three runs in the top of the first held on to secure the victory in game one of the day. Tyler Gripentrog led off the inning with a walk, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kolin Kubitz. Jack Schmidt followed with his first single of the game, and stole second in the next at-bat to leave runners in scoring position for Lucas Lorenz. The sophomore sat on a pitch, connecting for a single through the right side which gave Northern the 1-0 lead. Lorenz promptly stole second base, leaving runners in scoring position for the second time in the inning. Schmidt and Lorenz scored on the next play, as Ben Allen hit into an error by the short stop.
 
Northern added only one other hit in the game, off the bat of Schmidt, while Matt Stubbs added the team's final stolen base. The Wolves played solid errorless defense behind starting pitcher Colton Boucher who entered the game with a 2-0 record.
 
Boucher notched his third win of the season throwing a complete seven-inning shutout. The senior gave up only four hits in the win and tallied six strikeouts. The scoreless action moved Boucher's season ERA from a 4.91 to a 3.55 in four appearances.
 
Game 2
 
The Wolves again jumped out to a lead in game two, however not until the third inning of action. Tyler Gripentrog started the rally with a one out single to centerfield, but was caught stealing the next at-bat, leaving the Wolves with two outs and no one on base. Kolin Kubitz reach on an error by the second basemen and came around to score off a Jack Schmidt single down the left field line.
 
Northern added a trio of runs in the fifth to take the 4-0 lead over the Mustangs. SMSU however fought back in the bottom half of the inning, with two runs of their own. Southwest continued to chip away in the eighth with their third run of the game, however the Wolves sealed the deal in the ninth with their fifth and final run of the game.
 
Marcus Manderbach started the game for the Wolves, throwing five complete innings and earning his second win of the season. The senior notched three strikeouts and gave up just two earned runs on ten hits. Luke Chevalier entered to throw three innings of solid relief work, recording six strikeouts and one earned run on two hits. Dillon Lee entered in the ninth and earned his first save of the year. Lee faced four batters in the inning, giving up one walk and striking out one. Northern again played solid defense behind the mound through nine errorless innings of action.
 
Northern tallied seven hits as a team, led by sophomore Jack Schmidt who went 2-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored. Also recording hits in the game were Tyler Gripentrog, Kolin Kubitz, Lucas Lorenz, Easton Lopez, and Mikey Barreneche.
 
The Wolves will remain on the road this weekend at Upper Iowa University. Doubleheaders are set to begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. on Sunday. Northern will open the 2016 home season next Wednesday versus Bemidji State at 1 p.m. from Fossum Field.