SMSU sweeps WSU to run streak to four in a row - SMSU Athletics (2024)

MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State baseball team used strong starting pitching from Kolby Kiser in game one and then use a pair of late-inning two-run doubles in game two to earn a sweep over Winona State on Saturday at Legion Field.

SMSU won the opener 2-1, before rallying for an 11-7 win in game two. The Mustangs have won four straight and improve to 22-14 overall, 16-11 NSIC, while the Warriors drop to 14-24 overall, 11-17 NSIC.

The victories snapped a nine-game winning streak in the series for WSU dating back to the 2018 season.

Kiser (5-2) was dominate in the opener firing a seven-inning complete game allowing an unearned run on four hits with two strikeouts, two hit by pitches and one walk.

WSU pushed across an unearned run in the top of the first, but SMSU rallied in the home half with a two-out rally to tie the game. Owen Latendresse worked a four-pitch, two-out walk and promptly stole second base. Following a WSU throwing error put runners on the corners, Max Kalenberg delivered a run-scoring single to right field to make the score 1-1.

The score remained 1-1 until the fourth when SMSU scored the eventual game-winning run. Kalenberg and Keenan Wenzel started the rally with singles before Caleb Gardow worked a one-out walk to load the bases. Jake Tauer stepped to the plate and hit a hard ball down third base line that was fielded by the third baseman who stepped on third for the second out of the inning, but his throw to first was not in time allowing Kalenberg to score.

Kiser would keep the Mustangs in the lead tossing a 1-2-3 fifth inning before standing two runners on in the sixth and one more in the seventh to complete the victory.

SMSU finished the opener with seven hits as Latendresse and Kalenberg both finished with two, while Isaac Nett, Wenzel and Peyton Nash each collected one hit.

SMSU's Chase McDaniel was hitless in three at bats in game one to see his team season-high 16-game hitting streak end.

McDaniel however came through big time in game two to help the Mustangs rally from a three-run deficit in the sixth inning, scoring seven unanswered runs in the final three frames.

SMSU jumped to an early 2-0 lead with Jaxon Haase stroking a two-run single in the first inning to score McDaniel and Nett.

WSU answered with two runs in the second and used a solo home run in the third to take a 3-2 lead off SMSU starting pitcher Carter Petron.

The WSU lead did not last for long as Haase drilled a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 3-3. It was Haase's second home run of the week and the third this season.

SMSU would regain the lead in the fourth inning with Brady Petron reaching first via a one-out hit by pitch and later crossing the plate on a sac fly by McDaniel.

WSU countered in a big way in the fifth scoring three runs on three hits to pull back in front at 6-4. The Warriors would push across another run in the top of the sixth off Mustang relief pitcher Bennet Knapper and threated for more, but pitchers Kobe Lovell and Cameron Jensen each recorded an out to keep the deficit at 7-4. Jenson ended the inning with a strikeout with runners at second and third.

SMSU would start its comeback in the bottom of the inning with Nash drilling a single and Petron walking to bring the tying run to the plate with no outs and forcing a pitching change. Tauer would load the bases with a bunt single before McDaniel struck out for the first out. Nett coaxed a bases loaded walk to score the first run before Latendresse drilled a deep sac fly to left field to score another run. Haase came through once again with a clutch two-out RBI single to plate Tauer and tie the game at 7-7.

Jensen fired a scoreless seventh to keep the game tied and set-up a big seventh inning rally. Wenzel started the rally with bad-hop single and moved to second on a one-out walk by Petron. Following a strikeout, McDaniel hammered a huge two-run double to right-center field to put the Mustangs back in front at 9-7.

Following another scoreless inning by Jensen in the eighth, the Mustangs added two big insurance runs in the home half with Nash drilling a two-run double down the right field line to score Haase and Kalenberg, who both singled earlier.

Leading 11-7 in the ninth, Jensen would retire the first two batters he faced before allowing two singles. With a 2-0 count, Noah Cekalla came onto pitch and prior to a 3-2 pitch, Cekalla was called for a pitch-clock violation to load the bases. Cekalla however retired on the final batter of the game with a foul pop out to secure his second save of the season.

Haase led SMSU's 11-hit attack finishing 4 for 5 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Nash and Kalenberg both added two hits, while McDaniel, Wenzel and Tauer each had one hit.

Jensen (2-1) earned the victory striking out a career-high seven in three innings and allowing just two hits.

Carter Petron earned a no-decision allowing six runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts, two walks and two hit batters.