Webster, SD (NSUWolves.com) – The Northern State baseball team was unable to avoid the series sweep to Southwest Minnesota State on Monday afternoon at Bob Wiley Field as the Wolves rally fell short and the Mustangs held on to a 5-4 win. Northern was able to out-score Southwest 4-1 in the final three innings of play, however the Wolves left a pair of baserunners stranded in the bottom of the ninth as the comeback fell one run short.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: NSU 4, SMSU 5
Records: NSU 10-28 (5-22 NSIC), SMSU 25-12 (17-10 NSIC)
Attendance: 33
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In his tenth start of the season Max Otto held Southwest Minnesota State to only one hit through the first three innings of play, however that one hit was a solo homerun to right field in the top of the first to give SMSU a 1-0 lead
- The Mustangs extended their lead with three runs in the top of the fourth inning on a pair of hits and an NSU error, pushing the lead to 4-0
- An RBI single up the middle by Mateo Tahsini was able to score Mitchell Tolk who hit a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh, cutting the deficit to 4-1
- SMSU added their final run of the game with a solo homerun to right center in the top of the eighth before Northern started to threaten the Mustang lead in the bottom half of the inning
- The Wolves started to rally with three runs in eighth, beginning with a bases loaded sacrifice fly by Kai Brisk to score Karson Hesser; later in the eighth Jack Paulson was able to cross home plate as Tahsini reached base safely on a fielding error and Niko Pezonella brought NSU within one run as he scored on a Connor Knecht RBI single through the left side of the infield
- Northern State got out of a bases loaded situation in the top of the ninth and were able to get their first two batters on base in the bottom half of the frame, but the rally would end there as the Mustangs forced a ground out and back-to-back fly outs to center field
- Otto (0-8) suffered the loss on the mound, pitching his fourth complete game of the season with five strikeouts in the contest
- Northern State scored their four runs off seven hits and committed two errors defensively
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
Jack Paulson: 2-for-4, 1 double, 1 walk, 1 hit-by-pitch, 1 run scored
Connor Knecht: 1-for-2, 1 walk, 1 RBI
Max Otto: 9.0 innings pitched, 5 strikeouts
UP NEXT
Northern State will be on the road tomorrow afternoon with an NSIC doubleheader at St. Cloud State. First pitch for the Wolves and Huskies has been pushed back to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud, Minnesota.