TUCSON, Ariz. — Southwestern Minnesota State opened its eight-game schedule at the Tucson Invitational on Sunday by splitting a pair of games at the Kino Sports Complex. The Mustangs picked up a 9-7 victory over Jamestown University to open the day before suffering a seven-inning 11-1 loss to Dakota Wesleyan.

In the win over Jamestown, SMSU (2-4) led 3-0 after four innings and 7-3 in the seventh but rallied with three runs in the seventh and eighth innings to secure the victory. Chase McDaniel delivered the winning blow with a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth.

Jamestown got off to a fast start with a first-run three-run homer of the inning against SMSU starter Kolby Kiser.

The score remained 3-0 until the fifth when the Mustangs took advantage of Jamestown’s wild pitch. Jake Tauer started the rally with a walk and moved up to second on a hit by throwing to Keenan Wenzel. Following a change of pitch and two strikeouts, McDaniel was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jaxon Haase then ripped a two-run single to cut the deficit to 3-2 after five.

The Jimmies responded right away in the sixth, taking advantage of two Mustang errors to score a pair of unearned runs and regain the three-point lead at 5-2.

The Mustangs took the lead in the half of the sixth at home thanks to a brace from Isaac Nett and a stolen sack from Tauer to make it 5-3.

UJ added up the lead with a pair of runs in the seventh, but again SMSU had a response. Caleb Gardow started the inning with a single and following a fielding error by Jamestown, the Mustangs had runners on first and second with no outs. A down pitch moved both runners before Haase followed with a walk to charge the bases. Max Kalenberg then cut an RBI single to right field to score pinched runner Brady Petron. Isaac Nett persuaded a base-loaded walk to tackle another run before Peyton Nash made it 7-6 with a sack fly.

In the eighth, Tauer started the rally with a single and moved to second on a Wenzel curry single. After a fielder’s pick and a strikeout put the runners in second and third with two outs, McDaniel pitched 1-2 to left field to tackle two runs and give SMSU a 1-0 lead. 8-7. Two batters later, Kalenberg added the lead with a single to make it 9-7.

Sam Nascak completed the win by going 1-2-3 in the lead in the ninth for his first career win. Nascak pitched two no-hitter innings with a pair of strikeouts and two walks.

Kiser pitched the first four innings and allowed three runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.

Gardow, Kalenberg and McDaniel each finished with two hits to pace the Mustangs’ 11-hit offense, while Haase, McDaniel and Kalenberg all closed with two RBIs.

In SMSU’s second game of the day, DWU had four runs on five hits off Mustang’s first starter, Ryan Chmielewski.

SMSU recovered a run late in the first period as Peyton Nash hit a one-out single and scored a batter later on a Owen Latendresse single.

The Tigers fought back with six more points in the second to open a 10-1 lead and never looked back.

Chmielewski (0-2) pitched two innings in the loss, allowing 10 runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and walks pitched.

Avery Stevens pitched two relief innings allowing one run, Craig Lasley pitched two shutout innings, while Andy Andresen pitched a shutout inning for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs finished with six hits in the game and Latendresse had two.

SMSU continues to play today with a rematch against Jamestown starting at 10 a.m. CST.

— Courtesy of content

by SMSU Athletic

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