DENVER – The University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team (1-5) rallied to win the opener, 7-4, in 11 innings before dropping a 6-4 decision in game two of a doubleheader with Metro State (4-5) on Sunday at the Regency Athletic Complex in Denver.

In the opener, USF trailed 2-1 early before rallying to go ahead 4-2 and scored three runs in the 11th inning, including triples from Austin Richey and Brent Griffing-Jarvis, to pull out a 7-4 decision. Stuart Maes came on in relief to record his first career win. In the second game, Metro State scored four runs in the third inning and took a 6-4 decision to earn a split in the doubleheader. MSU won 2-of-3 games from USF.

USF head coach Grant Hieb recorded his first career win in the 7-4 decision on Sunday.

Overall in the two games, USF hit .268 with 11 runs and 19 hits, including four triples and a HR. They held MSU to just .233 hitting while recording 17 strikeouts and walking just seven hitters in the two games.

Game 1 – USF 7 Metro State 4 (11 innings)
After trailing early, the Cougars grabbed a 4-2 lead with two runs in the eighth inning. However MSU answered to tie the game at 4-4. In the 11th, USF pieced together the game-winning rally with three runs in recording its first win of the season.

Maes registered his first career win with four innings of work, allowing just four hits and two runs with two strikeouts and two walks. Zak Wallner (0-1) started and worked six innings, showing effectiveness by giving up just three hits and two runs while recording three strikeouts. Mitchell Lyall also worked for USF, tossing one inning of shutout relief. USF's offense was again led by Trevor Crow, who had three hits in five at bats, including his third home run of the season. He also had two RBI, improving his total to nine on the season. Brent Griffing-Jarvis was 3-of-6 with a run and RBI.  Connor Merriam had two more hits as did Austin Richey.

The Cougars opened the scoring with a run in the second inning on Crow's solo blast. In the sixth, Crow, who singled, scored on Merriam's RBI ground out which tied the game at 2-2.  The Cougars broke the tie in the eighth inning after Griffing-Jarvis reached on a bunt single and scored on a triple by Josh Rehwaldt. Later in the frame, Rehwaldt scored on Crow's single. 

USF won the game in the 11th as the team was able to string together a series of extra base hits. Merriam opened the inning with a double and scored on Richey's triple. Noah Durkin's single brought home the third run of the inning. In the bottom half, MSU put two runners on before Maes closed it out to earn the victory.

Game 2 – Metro State 6 USF 4
After USF took a 1-0 lead, MSU gained control with four runs in the third inning and added single runs in both the fourth and sixth innings. USF rallied with a run in the sixth and loaded the bases in the seventh inning. The Cougars scored twice but the rally fell short in the seventh.

Dan Johnson started and took the loss for USF as he dropped to 0-1 on the season. Johnson worked 3 2/3 innings, allowing five hits but just one run as USF was hurt by a pair of errors. Chris Thompson (1/3, strikeout) and Mitchell Lyall (two innings, two hits, run) finished up for USF.

The Cougars, which had four runs on six hits, were led by GriffingJarvis, who had two hits and an RBI. Rehwaldt added two hits and an RBI while Noah Durkin scored a pair of runs.

USF opened the scoring with a run in the third when Griffing-Jarvis singles to score Durkin, who had reached on a fielder's choice. The Cougars scored in the sixth when Rehwaldt singled and scored on a wild pitch and throwing error by the catcher.   In the seventh inning for USF, Cole Sweeney singled with one out and advanced when Durkin and Griffing-Jarvis walked to load the bases. Rehwaldt's single plated Sweeney. Durkin scored on a wild pitch before the inning ended on a ground out by Matthew Minnick.

Notes – With his five hits in the double header, Griffing -Jarvis improved his average .389 as he has seven hits and seven runs and a .607 OBP through six games. Crow had another solid weekend as he sits at .478 with 11 hits, nine RBI and three HRs. He is slugging 1.043 with a .500 OBP. In addition, Merriam continues to sizzle at .409 with nine hits, .773 slugging percentage and .435 OBP. As a team USF is hitting .296 with 45 runs scored and 61 hits.