GOLDEN, COLO. – The University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team (2-7) dropped a doubleheader to Colorado Mines (10-7) in nonconference action on Tuesday. The Cougars fell, 15-4, in game one before dropping a pitcher's duel, 2-1, in game two.
The Cougars scored five total runs on 11 hits in the two games. However, the Cougars' pitching staff came up with its best performance of the season in game two, allowing just two runs on four hits with five strikeouts.
G1 – Colorado Mines 15 USF 4 (7 innings)
CMU jumped out to a 6-0 lead and was never seriously threatened in a 15-4 decision over USF in the opener. After UCM built the big first inning lead, USF answered with three runs, energized by
Austin Richey who doubled home
Trevor Crow, who had singled. Then,
Connor Merriam hit his third home run of the season, two-run shot to cut the lead to 6-3.
However UCM's offense was in control, building a 13-3 lead through three innings. USF's
Rob Johnson, who had a pair of hits, went deep with his first HR of the season and the Cougars trailed 13-4 through 4 ½ innings. CMU finished with 15 runs on 17 hits and left six runners on base while USF had four runs on seven hits and left three runners stranded. Jake Englehart picked up the win, working four innings and allowing three runs.
Ryan Patrick (0-1) started and took the loss for USF, working one inning and allowing six runs, five hits with two walks.
Christian Lazar worked two innings and allowed seven runs and eight hits.
Cody Blackwell also appeared in relief, going three innings and allowing two runs on four hits with a pair of strikeouts.
G2 – Colorado Mines 2 USF 1 (7 innings)
In game two, the Cougars received their best pitching performance of the season but dropped a 2-1 decision in seven innings. CMU scored the winning run on a one-out double by Logan Smith in the seventh inning. Both teams pushed a run across in the second inning and then the pitching took over.
After a scoreless first inning, USF's
Connor Merriam doubled, advanced on a passed ball and scored on RBI groundout by
Cole Sweeney for a 1-0 lead. CMU tied the game in the bottom of the second inning.
USF started
Chris Thompson, who in his first start of the season, had his best outing. He worked three innings and allowed just one run on one hit with two strikeouts and two walks.
Zak Wallner entered the game in the fourth inning and tossed two innings of scoreless relief.
Jackson Olson took the loss after allowing one run on two hits in one inning of work with two strikeouts.
Mitchell Lyall also pitched for USF, allowing a pair of hits.
Cl. Martin (2-0) picked up the win for CMU as he allowed no hits in three innings with three strikeouts.
Aside from Merriam, USF had base hits from Brent Griffing-Jarvis,
Noah Durkin and
Josh Rehwaldt. Both teams had just four hits and USF had one error. CMU left seven runners on base and USF, five.
Next for USF will be a home doubleheader with St. Cloud State on Saturday, March 18 at the Birdcage.
Notes: USF is hitting .299 as a team with 61 runs and 88 hits in nine games. USF, which has stolen 20-of-25 bases on the season, have a .402 OBP and .469 slugging percentage.
Rob Johnson leads the team in hitting at .500 while owning a .630 OBP. Brent Griffing-Jarvis is hitting .467 with a .600 OBP and .700 slugging percentage. He has a team-high 14 hits.
Josh Rehwaldt, who is hitting .270, has a team-high 10 RBI.
