QUINCY, ILL. – Despite solid pitching performances throughout the day, the University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team (2-14, 0-3 NSIC) dropped a doubleheader to the University of Mary (6-8, 3-0 NSIC) on Monday to wrap up a three-game set at Quincy U Stadium.  USF lost game 1, 5-2, and fell 4-3 in the second game.

The Cougars have dropped four straight games by a combined nine runs and now stand at 2-14 overall and 0-3 in league play. USF is scheduled to play Northern State on Wednesday, March 20.

Against, U-Mary, the Cougars struggled on offense with just five total hits in the two losses. The Cougars allowed just nine runs – eight earned – across 16 innings. U-Mary had eight hits in each game but the Cougars had 10 strikeouts with six walks. As a result, USF dropped its earned run average to 6.61 which amounted to over a half-run since the series started. In total, USF had 23 strikeouts and nine walks over the three-game series.

Game 1 – U-Mary 5 USF 2 (7 innings)
In the opener U-Mary broke from a 1-1 tie with three runs in the fourth inning to break up a pitching duel as they recorded a 5-2 decision. The Marauders outhit USF, 8-2, in a game that had just one error. Andrew Brooks (1-1) picked up the win for UM as he allowed just two hits and two runs while recording nine strikeouts. Charles Bieleeski earned his first save with one inning of shutdown relief. He walked a hitter in the seventh inning but had three strikeouts.

USF sophomore Jackson Olson (0-2) took the loss after working 4 2/3 innings and allowing eight hits with four earned runs. He had four strikeouts and walked two in facing 20 batters. Senior Christian Lazar retired the only hitter he faced with another strikeout and now has a 1.17 ERA on the season and 14 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. He has struck out five of the last nine batters he has faced. Sophomore Alex Loosbrock worked two innings of scoreless relief as he had four more strikeouts and now has 20 for the season. In two appearances against U-Mary he worked three innings and did not allow a hit while strikeout out five of nine batters he faced.

In the first inning, U-Mary drew a pair of walks and Connor Doll scored on RBI single by Dalton Sauce for a 1-0 lead. USF's Sam Michels walked and scored on a one-out sacrifice bunt by Connor King as the Cougars tied the game at 1-1 in the third inning.

In the fourth inning, U-Mary took a lead that they would not relinquish. In putting up three runs on five hits, the Marauders took a 4-1 lead. Dalton Sauce and Braeton Wixon had RBI doubles to key the rally. Darius Barlas hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning as UM took a 5-1 lead. The Cougars cut the lead to 5-2 when Brennan Gabriel, who opened the inning with a single, scored on an RBI ground out by Kyle Gulbrandson, who recorded his 11^th RBI of the season.
 
Game 2 – U-Mary 4 Sioux Falls 3 (9 innings)
In a pitching duel in game two, the Marauders had a pair of crucial hits to edge past the Cougars, 4-3.

While neither starter figured in the decision, pitching was strong by both sides. USF started sophomore Payton Livingston, who allowed three hits and an earned run across three innings. He was replaced by sophomore Keenahn Coyle (0-3), who took the loss. Coyle allowed three runs on four hitting in four innings. Spencer Dokken closed for USF with two innings of shutdown relief pitching. He allowed just a hit while striking out a hitter.

After starting Travis Holte (one inning, two runs, one earned no hits, two walks), the Marauders turned to Zach Martin (1-1), who earned the win after throwing six innings and allowing two hits with one run which was unearned. He had five strikeouts and four walks. Quentin Evers picked up his first save of the season after allowing just one hit in two innings of shutout relief. Evers had two strikeouts in facing seven USF hitters.

USF's offensive attack was led by redshirt sophomore Roy Nielsen IV, who had his first two RBIs of his career and freshman outfielder Connor King, who reached bases three times (two walks and hit by pitch), scored a run and three of USF's seven stolen bases. Sophomore Grant Lung had a hit, RBI and stolen base while Sam Michels had a hit as did freshman Trey Hubers. Both Michels and Hubers had stolen bases. Junior Ryan Bernardy also scored two for the Cougars.

USF jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning after King was hit by a pitch, stole second and later scored on Lung's RBI ground out. For Lung it was his 10^th RBI of the season. 

After a home run by Barlas tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning, the Cougars had the answer. Ryan Bernardy walked and stole second base and, after advancing to third on a wild pitch, scored on Nielsen's RBI ground out. It was Nielsen's first RBI of his career. The Cougars added a run in the fourth inning when Bernardy drew a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brennan Gabriel. He scored after a passed ball and Nielsen's RBI squeeze bunt for the 3-1 lead.

The Marauders answered with two runs in the fifth inning to tie it on a sacrifice fly by Chris Scott and an RBI hit from Jesus Payan. Braeton Wixo's home run in the sixth inning provided the go-ahead run and the lead which USF did not give back in a 4-3 win.