ST. PAUL, MINN. -- Zak Wallner recorded his fifth complete game of the season in a marathon pitching effort in a 5-3 extra innings win in game one before the University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team (18-28, 15-21 NSIC) lost 7-6 in 12 innings in game two in splitting a doubleheader with Concordia St. Paul (21-22, 15-16 NSIC) on Saturday. The final three games of the CSP series were decided extra innings with the Golden Bears winning 2-of-3, including a 12-inning affair in game two today. The Cougars, which won game one in nine innings, now stand  2-3 this season in extra-inning games.

Wallner moved to 4-1 on the season with the game one victory and now is second in the NSIC with five complete games. He also lowered his ERA to 3.99 on the season. The Cougars offense was led by Anthony Lopez who had three hits and six at bats and Austin Richey, who had five hits in 11 at bats with a team-high five RBI in the doubleheader. Matthew Minnick, Connor Merriam and Noah Durkin all added three hits in the two games.

The setback by USF in game two hurt their chances to qualify for the NSIC postseason tournament, which includes the top eight teams. The Cougars, which host Wayne State at the Birdcage next Friday and Saturday, sit in 10th but are just percentage points out of eighth.

G1 – Sioux Falls 5 Concordia St. Paul 3 (9 innings)
Waller's pitching effort and three RBI from Richey helped lead the Cougars to a 5-3 extra innings win over Concordia St. Paul in game one. The Cougars took the lead in the ninth inning on a two-run single by Richey. Wallner finished off the Golden Bears, allowing just one hit in the ninth inning as he moved to 4-1 on the season.

Wallner allowed seven hits and three runs in a career-best nine-inning complete game. He had three strikeouts and one walk while throwing 132 pitches.

Shaun Benson of CSP took the loss to fall to 0-1 on the season. He allowed three hits and three runs in three innings of work in relief of starter Josh Lenz, who worked six innings, allowing nine hits and three runs (two earned).

The Cougars were led offensively by Richey with two hits and three RBI. Josh Rehwaldt added two hits and an RBI and Minnick and Gunner Peterson both had two hits. Peterson also contributed an RBI.

For the third time in the series, the Cougars jumped to an early lead. Rehwaldt's RBI double scored on Noah Durkin, who reached by a fielder's choice in the first inning. The Golden Bears answered by taking a 3-1 lead in the third inning as Roch Whitaker and Tanner Holmquist had RBI.

USF cut the Golden Bears' lead to 3-2 in the fifth inning as Durkin singled and scored on Austin Richey's RBI ground out. In the sixth inning, pinch hitter Anthony Lopez singled and was replaced by pinch runner Rob Johnson who stole his league-leading 21st base. When CSP made an error on Johnson's steal, he advanced to third and scored on Peterson's squeeze bunt as the Cougars rallied to tie the game at 3-3.

The Cougars broke a 3-3 deadlock Richey had his second and third RBI of the game with a two-run single. Brent Jarvis opened the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Peterson. Rehwaldt was intentionally walked and then Jarvis and Rehwaldt converted a double steal. Richey followed through with his clutch two-run, game-winning single.

G2 – Concordia St. Paul 7 Sioux Falls 6 (12 innings)
Despite leading twice in extra innings, the Cougars dropped a 7-6 decision to CSP in 12 innings. Ben Suits of the Golden Bears was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the winning run.

Dylan Gavin started but did not figure in the decision after working 5 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs on nine hits with three walks and three strikeouts in throwing 107 pitches. Stuart Maes (2-5) was the hard luck losing pitcher after working 5 2/3 innings in relief. He allowed seven hits and three earned runs with three strikeouts.

Keanu Mendez (2-5) was the third of three CSP pitcher and earned the victory in relief. He allowed three hits and one run (unearned) in three innings of work. Connor Hurley started and tossed six innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs.

USF, which had 13 hits in the game but three errors, was led by Richey's three hits and two RBI. Durkin added two hits as did Lopez and Merriam. Connor Schmidt had four hits for CSP.

The Cougars opened the scoring on a two-run single from Richey for a 2-0 lead. After CSP rallied for a 3-2 lead, USF took a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning. Brent Jarvis had an RBI double and Minnick had an RBI single to push USF into the lead. CSP tied the game in the seventh inning. Whitaker's RBI single in the seventh innng sent the game into extra innings. USF took a 5-4 lead in the ninth inning on Cole Sweeney's RBI single. In the bottom of the ninth, CSP tied the game on a sacrifice fly by Mickey Leius. Again in the 11th inning USF grabbed a lead, moving again, 6-5 when Rob Johnson singled and stole second and third, scoring when Connor Merriam singled. CSP tied the game in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Jack Steckler, which set the stage for their walk off win in the 12th inning.