The Southland baseball team put on a hitting clinic in the second inning as they beat Rushford-Peterson (4-11 overall) 7-3 in Dick Seltz Field Friday.

After falling behind 2-1 in the first inning, the Rebels (8-7 overall, 8-7 Three Rivers) tallied six straight one-out hits to go up 5-2. Lukas Anderson blasted a two-run double to the left field wall and Taylar Schwartz knocked in two runs with a single up the middle during the rally.

“We took batting practice before the game and we hadn’t done that yet,” said Southland senior Tyler Kressin, who went 2-for-3 with a triple and three runs. “I think that’s gonna be our new good luck charm.”

Southland showed how far it has come this year in the win as it lost its season opener to the Trojans (4-11 overall) 6-0 in the opener.

Since then, the Rebels have slowly improved game by game.

“I think we’ve really come a long way,” Kressin said. “A lot of people were doubting us for how young we were, but I think we’re doing just fine. Luke (Anderson) and I have helped (the younger guys) a lot.”

Schwartz, a sophomore, picked up the win on the mound as he allowed four hits and two runs in the first inning. But he recovered and allowed just four hits and one unearned run the rest of the way.

“I’m a lot more confident up there and I’m starting to settle in,” Schwartz said.

RP 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 — 3 8 2

Southland 1 4 0 1 1 0 X — 7 11 3

Southland pitching: Taylar Schwartz (W), 7 IP, 8 H, 3 BB, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 K

Southland hitting: Tyler Kressin, 2-for-3, triple, 3 R, SB, BB; Lukas Anderson, 2-for-3, double, 3 RBI, R, BB; Schwartz, 1-for-4, 3 RBI; Mike Goergen, 1-for-2, 2 BB; Decker Bendtsen, 2-for-4, RBI; Nick Schmitz, 0-for-3, BB; Isaac Kloeckner, 0-for-4; Dillon Heimer, 1-for-3, R, BB; Trent Reinartz, 2-for-3, R