The Southwest Minnesota State University Mustang baseball team was led by Brian Ness, who blasted out four hits during their 8-6 victory in game two of a doubleheader against Augustana on Saturday, March 30, 2013.
The Mustangs got on the board in the second inning scoring two runs after an RBI single by Tanner Neale and an error by the Vikings. However, the Vikings responded with four runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 4-2 lead. SMSU recorded two runs in the third to tie the score up. Ness and Jarred Carlson hit consecutive singles to start off the inning. Ness would go on to score on an RBI double by Kyle Young. Carlson scored on a fly by Elliott Serbus.
SMSU gained an advantage in the fourth inning after a one-out double by Ryan Engels, who scored on an RBI single by Ness to give the Mustangs a 5-4 lead. Augustana answered in the fifth inning after blasting out a two-run triple, giving the Vikings a 6-5 advantage over the Mustangs.
A solid sixth inning for Ness helped the Mustangs reclaim the lead. Following two strikeouts, Jordon Kontz picked up a walk. Next up to the plate was Ness, who blasted out his second home run of the season to give the Mustangs a 7-6 lead.
In the eighth inning, Engels hit his first career home run, increasing the Mustangs’ lead to 8-6. The Vikings wouldn’t score for the remainder of the game, giving the Mustangs an 8-6 lead.
Brothers Travis and Corby McGlauflin pitched for the Mustangs in the victory. Travis McGlauflin took the win for the Mustangs, throwing just over five innings. Corby McGlauflin pitched the remaining innings to earn his first save of the season, as he picked up four strikeouts and allowed no runs on four hits.
The Mustangs opened up the scoring in game one during the top of the first as Engels walked and was moved to third after a single by Ness. Engels scored on an Augustana throwing error.
Augustana responded with three runs in the bottom on the first after three hits and two walks. The Vikings would go on to earn single runs in the third, fifth, and sixth innings.
Joe Axelson started on the mound for the Mustangs, but was replaced by Brandan Alfson after just two innings. Alfson pitched three straight innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit and two strikeouts.
With the loss, the Mustangs fall to a record of 6-12-1 overall and 1-3 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Vikings improve to 14-10 overall and 3-1 in the NSIC.
