The Southwest Minnesota State baseball team showcased their resilience and dominance in a doubleheader against Northern State on Wednesday, sweeping the Wolves with scores of 5-3 and 16-1.
In the first game, the Mustangs found themselves trailing 2-1 heading into the fifth inning. However, a pitching change by the Wolves proved to be the turning point as SMSU capitalized on the opportunity. Jake Tauer’s single and key walks loaded the bases, leading to a two-run single by Owen Latendresse that gave the Mustangs their first lead of the day. Keenan Wenzel’s double further extended their lead, ultimately securing a 5-3 victory.
Pitcher Answer Dulas delivered a solid performance, holding Northern State to two runs over six innings to earn the win for the Mustangs.
Game two saw SMSU explode offensively, scoring nine runs in the first inning alone. Chase McDaniel, Isaac Nett, and Owen Latendresse set the tone with early hits, while Jaxon Haase’s three-run homer highlighted the offensive onslaught. McDaniel later added a grand slam, his eighth homer of the year, as the Mustangs cruised to a 16-1 win.
With the doubleheader sweep, SMSU improved to 21-14 overall and 15-11 in conference play, positioning themselves sixth in the NSIC standings. The team looks to continue their success as they prepare to host Winona State in a weekend series at Legion Field.
Coach Jeremy Ische praised his team’s performance, emphasizing their experience and ability to maintain a high level of play. The Mustangs’ strong showing has instilled confidence as they aim to make a push in the conference standings.