Aberdeen, SD (NSUWolves.com) – The Northern State University baseball team earned a split against Southwest Minnesota State, dropping the opener 7-5 before bouncing back with a 7-3 victory in game two. Despite capitalizing on Mustang miscues in the first game, a late seventh-inning rally by SMSU kept the win out of reach. The Wolves responded with a strong finish in the nightcap, fueled by a late offensive burst that featured a two run shot (HR) from Casey Vining and three stolen bases by Michael Benevides. NSU combined for 12 runs on 19 hits with just one error across both games.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 5, SMSU 7
Final Score Game 2: NSU 7, SMSU 3
Records: NSU 8-26 (NSIC 7-24) SMSU 21-12 (NSIC 16-11)
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 1
- Southwest Minnesota State was the first to score in the third inning with three runs
- In the bottom of the third, Brennan Phillips scored on a double play to cut the deficit to two
- Jack Weidner hit a double down the left-field line, bringing in Dillon Castellanos
- Dylan Soulek reached first on an infield single and advanced Weidner to third; on the throw, Weidner scored to tie the game
- After a scoreless fourth inning, Drew Benson scored on a passed ball to give NSU a 4-3 lead
- AJ Mendez flied out to right field for a sacrifice fly, scoring Soulek and extending the lead in the fifth
- The Mustangs chipped away at the deficit with a solo home run in the top of the sixth
- In the top of the seventh, SMSU took the lead with three runs to win 7-5
NORTHERN STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Nick Friedges: 2-for-4
- Jack Weidner: 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 run, 2 doubles
- AJ Mendez: 1-for-3, 1 RBI
- Carson Zimmel: 5.0 IP, 4 strikeouts
- Drew Burkholder: 2.0 IP, 3 strikeouts
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 2
- After two scoreless innings, Southwest Minnesota State scored one run in the top of the third
- Northern State responded as Brennan Phillips singled through the left side, scoring Michael Benevides to tie the game
- Nick Friedges followed with a single through the right side, scoring Phillips and giving NSU a one-run lead
- In the fifth inning, Phillips reached first on an error by the left fielder, allowing Benevides to score and extend the lead to 3-1
- After two scoreless innings, the Mustangs tied the game with two runs
- Benevides scored on a sacrifice fly by Friedges in the bottom of the seventh to retake the lead, 4-3
- Drew Benson followed with a double to right-center, bringing in Phillips to extend the lead
- In the eighth inning, Casey Vining knocked one over the left-field fence for a two run home run, bringing the score to 7-3
- Jake Helleloid recorded five strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work against 19 batters
- Daulton Vanderloo earned the win with 2.2 innings pitched and three strikeouts
- NSU totaled seven runs on ten hits with no errors in game two
NORTHERN STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Brennan Phillips: 3-for-5, 2 runs, 1 RBI
- Nick Friedges: 2-for-2, 2 RBIs
- Casey Vining: 1-for-1, 2 RBIs, 1 run, homerun
- Drew Benson: 1-for-4, 1 double
- Michael Benevides: 1-for-2, 3 runs, 2 walks. 3 stolen bases
- Jake Helleloid: 6.0 IP, 5 strikeouts
- Daulton Vanderloo: 2.2 IP, Win, 3 Strikeouts
UP NEXT
Northern State closes out the week against Bemidji State on Friday and Saturday. First pitch is set for Friday, April 18 at 1:30 p.m., with game two following at 3:30 p.m. The series continues on Saturday, April 19 at 12 p.m. in Bemidji, Minn., against the Beavers.
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