MINOT, N.D. – Despite home runs from Connor Merriam and Dylan Gavin, The University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team dropped a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games, 8-1 and 16-7 to Minot State on Sunday at Corbett Park.

With the two losses, the Cougars loss three of four to the Beavers and fell to 12-24 overall and 12-14 in the NSIC to fall to ninth in the league standings. The Beavers improved to 23-12 overall and 21-4 and second place in the NSIC.

Merriam, who returned to action this weekend after missing several weeks due to injury, had two hits in five at bats. He slugged his fourth home run in the 8-1 USF loss in the opener. Gavin also had two hits and his home run came in the 16-7 setback in game two. USF was able to registered eight runs but had just eight total hits in 55 at bats on Sunday. The Cougars also had issues on the mound, allowing 24 runs on 27 hits in 16 innings. USF had 11 strikeouts but walked 16 batters.

Game 1 – Minot State 8 USF 1
In the opening Jaymon Cervantes stymied the USF hitting attack and threw a complete game two-hitter in the 8-1 victory. Cervantes, who improved to 4-0 on the season, allowed one earned run over seven innings while registering eight strikeouts.

Stuart Maes (1-7) took the loss for USF as he worked 3 1/3 innings and allowed five runs on three hits with five walks and two strikeouts.  Three other USF pitchers saw action including Christian Lazar (1/3 inning, three hits, two runs, strikeout), Payton Livingston (1 1/3 innings, no hits, no runs, two walks, strikeout) and Mitchell Lyall (2 1/3 innings, three hits, 0 earned runs, two walks and four strikeouts).

The Cougars received hits from Merriam with his fourth home run of his career in the fifth inning and Matthew Minnick.

After three innings, USF trailed just 1-0 but the Beavers exploded with a six-spot in the fourth inning and cruised to the 8-1 win. They finished with eight runs on nine hits while USF committed a pair of errors. Justin Demary hit a two-run home run and Michael Borst and Dustin Wilcox each had two hits.

Game 2 – Minot State 16 Sioux Falls 7
In game two, Minot State used an 18-hit attack to record a 16-7 win over USF in a slugfest.

The Beavers scored two runs in the second, three in the third and fourth innings before adding two runs in the fifth frame, one in the sixth and eighth innings and four more in the ninth inning. USF, which led 3-2 after two innings, scored three in the fourth inning, including two on an RBI double by Josh Rehwaldt but couldn't match the explosive Minot State offense.

 Freshman shortstop Grant Lung had two hits, two RBI and a run scored to lead USF's offense. Gavin provided two hits with his second home run of the season and eighth of his career in the ninth inning. Rehwaldt added a hit and two RBI while Merriam had a hit and run scored.

Reilly O'Rourke started for Minot State but did not figure in the decision. He allowed six runs on three hits in 3 1/3 innings. Tannar Galey (3-0) earned his third win with 2 2/3 innings of two-hit baseball with four strikeouts. Three Minot State relievers closed out the game.

Sophomore Keenahn Coyle (1-3), lost for the third time this season after going 2 1/3 innings and allowing six hits and five runs with four walks. Junior Spencer Dokken worked 1 2/3 innings and allowing three runs on three hits with two strikeouts. Also working for USF was Anthony Reese (1 1/3 innnings, four hits, three runs), Matt Graham (2 2/3 innings, one hit, one run, one walk), Alex Loosbrock (2/3 innings, four hits, four runs, two walks, strikeout) and John Berroth (1/3 inning, no hits, no runs).

Celestino Rodriquez had four hits, including a two home runs, and seven RBIs to lead the Beavers' offense. Darrel Doll added three hits and Justin Demary had two hits and three RBI including a home run.

USF will now host Augustana on Wednesday, April 25 for an NSIC doubleheader at 4/6 p.m. at the Birdcage.