SIOUX FALLS – In a drama-filled Monday, the University of Sioux -Falls Baseball Team (4-9, 2-2 NSIC) used walk off hits from Matthew Minnick and Trevor Crow to sweep a NSIC doubleheader over St. Cloud State at Ronken Field. The 5-4 and 7-6 victories were the first of the season for USF in league play. In addition, Grant Hieb picked up his first career NSIC win with the 5-4 victory. For the second straight day, USF played at Ronken Field as its home field at Sioux Falls Stadium (Birdcage) was not ready for play due to wet field conditions.

In game one, Matthew Minnick had a walk off double as the Cougars rallied for a 5-4 win in seven innings and ended the Huskies' 10-game winning streak. In game two, Crow had the walk-off single in the ninth inning as the Cougars took a 7-6 decision over SCSU. USF has won two straight for the first time this year. The two walk off wins were first of that kind by USF since recording four straight walk off victories during May 1-4, 2016 against Concordia St. Paul (1-0, 6-5) and Augustana (5-4, 8-7).

Against SCSU on Monday, the Cougars hit .348 as a team with 12 runs on 23 hits and 11 RBI. Four players each had four hits on the day, including Crow (4-of-7, three runs, double), Minnick (4-of-7, four RBI, double), Josh Rehwaldt (4-of-8, three runs, two RBI, three doubles) and Brent Griffing-Jarvis (4-of-9). In addition, Rob Johnson had three hits. In the two games, USF's pitching staff recorded nine strikeouts and had a 5.62 ERA, which is almost four runs better than their season average.

G1 – USF 5 SCSU 4 (7 innings)
In the opener Monday, Minnick's two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning enabled USF to overcome a 4-3 deficit and pick up their first league win of the season. For most of the game, USF starter Zak Waller was the story. He threw six scoreless innings and took a 3-0 lead into the seventh inning where he ran into trouble.

After loading the bases, SCSU's Jordan Joseph hit his second grand slam of the season in the top of the seventh inning as the Huskies took a 4-3 lead before USF rallied in the bottom of the seventh for the victory.

In his best performance of the season, Wallner allowed just six hits and four runs with three strikeouts. Cody Blackwell (1-0) finished up for USF, as he retired all three hitters he faced, including two by strikeout.

Minnick broke out of a hitting slump in a big way with three hits, including the walk-off single. He had a double and also stole his third base of the season. Rehwaldt had two hits as the Cougars collected 10 as a team.

USF opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the second inning. Durkin led off with a single and stole second base. With one out, Crow's single advanced Durkin to third. Cole Sweeney reached on an error by the shortstop as Durkin scored for a 1-0 lead. On the ensuing at bat, Gunner Peterson's had a fielder's choice RBI for the 2-0 advantage. In the third, Griffing-Jarvis doubled to left field and advanced to third on Rehwaldt's groundout. He scored on Minnick's run-scoring single.

In the seventh, Rob Johnson singled with one out. Then with two out, Rehwaldt reached on an infield single to move Johnson to second base. On a 2-1 count, Minnick hammered a ringing double to the right corner which plated Johnson and Rehwaldt for the win.

SCSU starter Dominic Austing (1-2) took the loss after allowing 10 hits, and five runs (four earned) with nine strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. Judd Davis had two hits for the Huskies.
 
G2 -- USF 7 SCSU 6 (9 innings)
In a similar fashion to game one, the Cougars jumped to a lead before SCSU rallied to set up late-game drama. The Cougars scored two runs in the second and added three in the fifth inning for a 5-0 lead. After SCSU scored in the sixth inning, USF answered with a single run for a 6-1 lead. Once again, the Huskies responded with four runs in the seventh inning and tied the game with a single run in the eighth inning. In a tie game, the Cougars loaded the bases in the ninth inning with one out before Rehwaldt scored on Crow's walk off hit.

Sophomore USF starter Dan Johnson started and worked sixth innings in his most effective outing of the young season. He allowed just five hits and one run while recording a pair of strikeouts. Jackson Olson entered the game in the seventh inning and pitched 1/3 of an inning, allowing three hits and four runs. Cody Blackwell relieved Olson, pitching 1 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and a run with a strikeout. Christian Lazar (1-0) picked up his first career win by pitching a scoreless ninth inning, including a strikeout.
USF's offense was led by Griffing-Jarvis and Crow who each had three hits. Rehwaldt and R. Johnson supplied two hits in USF's 13-hit attack.

Shannon Ahern (1-1) took the loss for SCSU as he worked three innings, allowing six hits and two runs with three strikeouts. Starter Aaron Hamman pitched five innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs. Miles Nablo entered the game in the ninth inning after Rehwaldt doubled off Ahern to start the inning. Nablo, who retired just one of four USF hitters, promptly issued an intentional walk to Minnick and also walked Noah Durkin to load the bases. After striking out Connor Merriam, Crow smoked a ball that ticked off the SCSU's shortstop's glove and into left field as Rehwaldt crossed home plate with the winning run.

Next up for the Cougars will be a pair of NSIC doubleheaders on Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26 at Sioux Falls Stadium (Birdcage) with start times set for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. both days.

Notes: In the four-game set with SCSU, Josh Rehwaldt hit .533 with eight hits in 15 at bats. He had three RBI and three doubles while stealing a pair of bases. As a result he raised his season average to .346 and now has a team high 13 RBI. Brent Griffing-Jarvis had another solid weekend with seven hits in 15 at bats, scoring three runs. He is now hitting .467 on the season with 14 runs, and a team-high 21 base knocks. Trevor Crow also hit .400 (.455) over the four-game stretch as he is now hitting .386 on the season with 10 RBI and 17 hits. Overall, the Cougars raised its batting average seven points to .311. USF has a .404 OBP and a .469 slugging percentage as a team. USF's pitching staff also lowered its ERA to 9.58 on the year.