OMAHA, Neb. – With a strong pitching outing from Dylan Gavin, the University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team (1-11, 1-1 NSIC) split a doubleheader against Bemidji State (3-12, 1-1 NSIC) on Saturday night at Millard North High School in Omaha. After USF won game one, 2-1 behind Gavin's strong pitching and RBI from Anthony Lopez and Kole Lekvin. In game two, USF dropped a 7-3 decision to the BSU. The NSIC doubleheader was moved to Omaha due to weather and field conditions in Sioux Falls.

Gavin led USF with a 2-1 win in game one by allowing just two hits over six innings. Rob Johnson had a pair of hits while Anthony Lopez and Kole Lekvin both had RBIs to help USF end a 10-game losing streak to open the 2018 season. In game two, Rob Johnson had three hits and totaled five on the night in seven at bats. The Cougars led 3-2 early before BSU had a three-run home run from Parker Borg to take the lead en route to a 7-3 decision.

The two squads will play another NSIC doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at 1/3:30 p.m. in Plattsmouth, Neb.

Game 1 – Sioux Falls 2 Bemidji State 1
Senior Dylan Gavin (1-2) picked up his first win by limiting Bemidji State to two hits in a 2-1 victory in game one of the doubleheader.

Gavin worked six innings and allowed two hits while registering four strikeouts and three walks as he improved to 1-2 with his third straight solid pitching start for USF. Dokken relieved Gavin, who allowed a base hit in the seventh inning, and shut down the Beavers for his first save. He recorded a strikeout in the one inning of work.

USF totaled seven hits, including two hits from Rob Johnson. Anthony Lopez had a hit, stolen base and the game-winning RBI in the fourth inning when USF rallied for two runs to take the lead. Kole Lekvin also had an RBI during the winning surge.

Game 2 – Bemidji State 7 USF 3
Despite three hits from Rob Johnson, USF lost game two to BSU, 7-3. Both team collected nine hits and committed an error.

After BSU took a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and second inning, USF received a RBI ground out from Alex Robinson and a two-out two-run single from Kole Lekvin to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second inning over the Beavers.

In the top of the third inning, Parker Borg hit a three-run home run and the Beavers retook a 5-3 lead. The Beavers added to their lead with two runs in the eighth inning after two were out. Two base hits and a double steal followed a walk and two runs.

Stuart Maes (0-3) took the loss for USF, going three innings and allowing four earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Also working on the mound for USF was Anthony Reese, who allowed just one hit in two innings. Jackson Olson threw 2 2/3 innings on two hits with two runs with three strikeouts. Christian Lazar worked 1/3 inning while Keenahn Coyle finished with one inning of work, registering two strikeouts and allowing one hit.

For BSU Alec Meyer (1-2) picked up the win, throwing six innings and allowing three runs with three strikeouts. Tommy Geisenhof closed for BSU, earning a save after allowing no runs, just three hits and striking out a pair of USF hitters.