GOLDEN, COLO. – The University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team (0-9) dropped a pair of close decisions, 13-12 and 8-4 to Colorado Mines (12-5) in a nonconference doubleheader at Jim Darden Field on Tuesday, March 13. The Cougars registered a season-high in runs and hits (20) but fell in game one, 13-12. CSM broke open a tight game with a four-run eighth inning to record an 8-4 victory in game two.

Next for USF will be its NSIC home opener against Bemidji State on Saturday and Sunday, March 17-18 at Sioux Falls Stadium (weather permitting).

In the two games, USF had 25 hits in 73 at bats for a .342 batting average. The Cougars were led by Matthew Minnick with five hits in eight at bats for a .625 average. He had a home run and four RBI. Josh Rehwaldt was 6-of-10 for a .600 average as he had three RBI. The Cougars hit four home runs, all in game one, including two by Connor Merriam, and one each from Minnick and Ryan Bernardy. USF pitchers worked 16 1/3 innings and had a 7.16 earned run average, allowing 21 hits and 13 earned runs with 14 strikeouts.

Game 1 – Colorado Mines 13 Sioux Falls 12 (nine innings)

In the opener, Minnick and Rehwaldt both recorded a season-high five hits but the Cougars lost-a high scoring 13-12 affair with the Orediggers. USF finished with the season-high in hits with 20. CSM's Joe Popp, who had five hits and three RBIs, had a walk-off single to give the Orediggers the victory.

Senior Stuart Maes (0-2) took the loss after working 1 1/3 innings. Redshirt freshman Matt Graham started for USF and threw 3 2/3 innings, allowing 10 hits and 10 runs, including seven earned. He had three strikeouts. Christian Lazar (1/3 inning), Brandon Roesler (three innings, five hits, two runs, four strikeouts) and Spencer Dokken (one hit) also pitched for USF. Mike Martin picked up the win in relief for the Orediggers as he allowed just one hit with three strikeouts in three innings.

Minnick ended his 0 for 18 slump by breaking out with his five hits, including his first home run of the season and his 18th of his career, a D2-program best at USF. He also had a season-high of four RBIs. Rehwaldt had five hits in six at bats with three runs. Senior catcher Connor Merriam had four hits, including a pair of home runs, which were the first two of the season for him. Luke Rysavy and Dylan Gavin also collected two hits.

Game Breakdown -

The Cougars opened the scoring as Rehwaldt singled and scored after Minnick singled and a UCM error for a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Orediggers responded with four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 4-1 lead. In what would prove to be a back-and-forth affair, the Cougars put a four-spot on the board in the top of the second inning with RBI from Rehwaldt, Dylan Gavin and Luke Rysavy. In the home half of the second inning, CSM took a 6-5 lead on a two-run home run by Trevor Kehe. Bernardy and Merriam hit back-to-back home runs as USF took a 7-6 lead in the top of the third inning.

One inning later, Minnick slammed his first home run of the season, a three-run shot for a 10-6 lead. UCM responded with three home runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game. Then, Merriam connected on his second home run of the game for an 11-10 lead in the sixth inning.  Minnick's fifth hit of the game and fourth RBI with two outs in the eighth inning tied the game at 12. In the bottom of the ninth, two hits batsmen led to Popp's walk-off RBI hit for CSM.

Game 2 – Colorado Mines 8 Sioux Falls 4 (nine innings)

CSM broke open a close game with a four-run eighth inning, keyed by a three-run double from Derek Daly, to pick up an 8-4 decision over USF.

USF opened up a 3-0 lead in the third inning before CSM scored two runs in both the bottom of the third and fourth innings for a 4-3 lead. After the Cougars tied the game, CSM responded with their game-deciding rally in the home half of the eighth inning.

Anthony Lopez led USF with four hits as the Cougars had just five for the game. Rehwaldt, Merriam and Rysavy also had hits.

Freshman Alex Loosbrock started and worked four innings for USF, allowing three hits and two earned runs. He had two strikeouts but walked four hitters. Anthony Reese (0-1) took the loss as he allowed two hits and four runs but just one earned in 2 2/3 innings. Jackson Olson (one inning, no runs, no hits) and Christian Lazar (1/3 inning, no hits, no runs) also pitched for USF.

Gabe Garvens (3-0) picked up the win in relief as he moved to 3-0 on the season for the Orediggers. He allowed just two hits and one run in four innings with three strikeouts.

Game Breakdown –
After a scoreless first inning, the Cougars used Rehwaldt's hot bat to grab an early lead. After Kole Lekvin walked and Lopez reached on an error, Rehwaldt slammed a two-run double.

After Minnick and Gavin walked, Rob Johnson's RBI ground out produced a third run as the Cougars led, 3-0. However, UCM answered with three runs in the home half of the third inning and a home run by Walter Pennington produced a 4-3 lead in the fourth inning. USF loaded the bases in the top of the seventh inning and a double play grounder by Lopez brought home Bernardy, who had walked to open the inning, with the tying run.

Colorado Mines answered with a four-run eighth inning, including an RBI single from Pennington and three-run double by Derek Daly, who had a game-high four RBIs.