Skip To Main Content

University of Sioux Falls Athletics

Scoreboard

Scoreboard

Cougars Knock off No. 9 CU-Irvine in Extras

Baseball USF Athletics

Goodenow Homer Lifts USF to Split with No. 15 MSU

The University of Sioux Falls baseball team split a doubleheader with No. 15 Minnesota State-Mankato on Saturday, dropping the opener 8-0 before taking game two 4-2 to snap a nine-game losing streak, the longest for the program since the 2005 season.

The Cougars improved to 4-20 while the Mavericks finished the weekend with an overall mark of 16-4.

Game one was scoreless until the top of the third, when MSU junior Mike Eckhart scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Pat Dockendorf. An RBI double by sophomore Todd Standish plated freshman Nolan Johnson to give MSU a 2-0 lead before the Mavericks would extend their lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth.

The visitors put the game out of reach with a five-run sixth inning that chased Cougar starter Noah Coleman.

USF failed to produce an extra base hit and were outdueled 8-3 at the plate. The heart of the order accounted for the Cougars' offense, as Damian Kardas, Jimmy Maxwell and Zach Ireland each went 1-for-3.

MSU starting pitcher senior Ben Kincaid would allow just three hits in a complete game effort while striking out nine batters en route to his third win of the season.

Coleman (0-4) took the loss for USF. The sophomore southpaw gave up seven runs (three earned) on nine hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Chris Nichols relieved Coleman with one out in the sixth, allowing one unearned run on two hits with a pair of strikeouts.

Game two was uneventful through four innings, as the Maverick nine posted three harmless singles and the Cougars tallied no hits and left four men stranded after drawing walks from MSU starter T.J. Larson. MSU opened the scoring in the top of the fifth after Mike Eckhart led off with a triple and scored on a single by Connor McCallum.

The Cougar bats awakened from extended hibernation in the bottom of the frame, scoring two runs on two hits to take their first lead of the day. Dylan Dwyer led off with a single and would score on an error by the MSU shortstop. Zach Ireland also benefitted from a Maverick mishap in the infield, reaching first on an error and eventually scored on an RBI double by Anthony Williams.

The Mavericks would tie the game in the next inning when Johnson drove in Kincaid with an
RBI single after Kincaid reached on an error to lead off the inning.

After both teams went quietly the next two half innings, sophomore Austin Goodenow picked the right time to belt his first collegiate homer, driving a fastball on a 1-0 count just over the left center wall to put the Cougars in front 3-2.

USF added a run in the eighth when Maxwell knocked a two-bagger that rolled to the center field fence and crossed the plate when Keith Cutler punched a two-out single to right field.

Cougar starter Derek Fischer was relieved in the seventh by Andrew Christensen, who retired the only batter he faced before Nichols returned to the mound and gave up one hit in the final 1.2 innings to earn his first save of the season.

Fischer (3-1) allowed two runs on eight hits with four walks and five strikeouts. The Brandon Valley product has accounted for three of the Cougars' four wins this season.

Maxwell led the Cougars from the plate, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored. Goodenow was 1-for-2 with a home run, walk and also scored a run. Williams finished 1-for-3 with an RBI.

The Cougars travel to Sioux City on Tuesday for a single game versus Briar Cliff (14-15).
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Damian Kardas

#17 Damian Kardas

RHP/OF
6' 1"
Redshirt
Keith Cutler

#24 Keith Cutler

INF
6' 3"
Freshman
Zach Ireland

#9 Zach Ireland

INF
6' 0"
Freshman
Noah Coleman

#19 Noah Coleman

LHP/OF
5' 10"
Freshman
Dylan Dwyer

#23 Dylan Dwyer

C/INF
6' 0"
Freshman
Derek Fischer

#29 Derek Fischer

RHP/INF
6' 1"
Freshman
Austin Goodenow

#17 Austin Goodenow

RHP/INF
6' 2"
Freshman
Andrew Christensen

#25 Andrew Christensen

LHP
5' 9"
Redshirt Junior
Jimmy Maxwell

#27 Jimmy Maxwell

INF
6' 2"
Senior
Chris Nichols

#39 Chris Nichols

RHP/INF
6' 2"
Junior
Anthony Williams

#7 Anthony Williams

OF
6' 1"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Damian Kardas

#17 Damian Kardas

6' 1"
Redshirt
RHP/OF
Keith Cutler

#24 Keith Cutler

6' 3"
Freshman
INF
Zach Ireland

#9 Zach Ireland

6' 0"
Freshman
INF
Noah Coleman

#19 Noah Coleman

5' 10"
Freshman
LHP/OF
Dylan Dwyer

#23 Dylan Dwyer

6' 0"
Freshman
C/INF
Derek Fischer

#29 Derek Fischer

6' 1"
Freshman
RHP/INF
Austin Goodenow

#17 Austin Goodenow

6' 2"
Freshman
RHP/INF
Andrew Christensen

#25 Andrew Christensen

5' 9"
Redshirt Junior
LHP
Jimmy Maxwell

#27 Jimmy Maxwell

6' 2"
Senior
INF
Chris Nichols

#39 Chris Nichols

6' 2"
Junior
RHP/INF
Anthony Williams

#7 Anthony Williams

6' 1"
Junior
OF