SIOUX FALLS – The University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team (0-3), which is hitting .340 after three games, will continue its nonconference schedule with a pair of doubleheaders at Metro State (2-5) on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 25-26.  Due to the incoming winter storm, the series, originally scheduled to begin on Friday, has been moved to doubleheaders on 1 & 3 p.m. on Saturday with the Sunday games at noon and 2 p.m.at the Regency Athletic Complex at MSU in Denver.  Live Stats - Live Video will be available through Metro State Athletics.

Sioux Falls, led by first year head coach Grant Hieb, will look to end a 0-3 start in which the Cougars had plenty of offense but struggled on the mound in their opening series at Pittsburg State (Feb. 11-12). The Cougars lost to PSU by scores of 21-11, 13-11 and 14-8. As a team, the Cougars are hitting .340 with a .580 slugging percentage and .455 OBP. The Cougars have four steals, .935 fielding percentage and 14 total extra base hits.

As a team, USF is .hitting .342 with runners in scoring position and have converted at a .733 rate (11_of-15) with runners on third and less than two outs. In advancing runners, the Cougars have been successful in 31-of-60 occasions for .517.  USF is batting .340 (18-of-53) with runners on and 3-of-11 for .273 with bases loaded. 

Metro State sits 2-5
The Cougars will face a Metro State squad, which has opened 2-5, including a 2-2 record at home. Directed by sixth year head coach Jerrid Oates (94-132), the Roadrunners are hitting .316 with six home runs and 36 RBI. Jake Thompson leads the way with a .520 batting average with Nelson Dylan at .350 with two home runs. Metro State comes into the weekend series after losing three straight to Emporia State.

USF hitters off to fast start
Johnson holds .833 OBP - Through three games junior centerfielder Rob Johnson is hitting .750 with six hits in eight at bats and three walks. He has four doubles among his hits and an OBP of .833. Johnson, who owns a 1.250 slugging pct., has made 12 plate appearances and reached base 10 times with his six hits supplemented by three walks and reaching by HBP. He also has two steals in three at bats with a 1.000 fielding percentage, recording one assist.

Crow leads Cougars with seven RBI - Senior outfielder Trevor Crow is hitting .500 with five hits, slugging percentage of 1.300, OBP of .545, two HRs and a team-best seven RBI. Crow, who is 2-of-3 (.667) with runners in scoring position, also leads USF with 13 total bases. He has also a .625 percentage in advancing runners and has gone 4-of-7 for .571 with runners on base.

Merriam already has two HRs - Junior catcher Connor Merriam, who is hitting .455, had five hits, two HR and five RBI with a slugging percentage of 1.000. Merriam has 11 total bases in 11 at bats. Like Crow, he has produced with runners on, hitting .750 in those situations. With runners on third and less than two out, Merriam has converted every time (3-of-3). He has also hit .600 (3-of-5) in advancing runners.

Peterson starting senior campaign with bang - Senior shortstop Gunner Peterson is hitting .385 with five hits, .538 slugging mark and .385 OBP.

On the mound
After a couple of rocky starts, the Cougars staff will look to get on track this weekend. The likely starters will be senior Zach Miller (0-1, 1 start, inning, five hits, six runs, 54.00 ERA), senior Zak Wallner (0-0, start, 14.73 ERA, nine hits, six runs, five strikeouts) and sophomore Dan Johnson (0-0, start, 10.80 ERA, two hits, three runs, 1.2 innings, strikeout). The bullpen is led by sophomore Mitchell Lyall (0-0, 4.50 ERA, two appearances, two innings, two strikeouts), sophomore Cody Blackwell (0-0, 5.40 ERA, 1.2 innings, strikeout) and sophomore Christian Lazar (0-0, 6.00 ERA, three innings, two strikeouts).