SIOUX FALLS – It was a night of firsts for the University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team (3-15, 1-4 NSIC), which split a doubleheader with in-state rival Northern State (7-9, 2-3 NSIC) at Ronken Field at Karras Park.
In a rare night doubleheader, the Cougars had a strong pitching outing from Alex Loosbrock and a six-run first inning to defeat NSU, 7-3, in game two. The Cougars rallied several times but fell just short in falling 7-6 in 11 innings in game one.

But addressing the firsts for USF, included the Cougars earning its first NSIC win of the season in the game two, 7-3, decision. The Cougars also scored six runs in an inning for the first time, when they exploded in the first inning of game two. Also, sophomore Alex Loosbrock had his first win of the season as he stymied the NSU attack in the game two win. For the first time this season, Josh Rehwaldt reached base seven straight times, including three hits. Rehwaldt, who now has a team DII mark of 229 career hits, raised his on-base percentage 40 points to .447. And, freshman outfielder Connor King hit his first home run at USF.

The Cougars, which will host St. Cloud State on Saturday and Sunday at Ronken Field, improved to 1-4 in league play with the 7-3 win.

Game 1 – Northern State 7 Sioux Falls 6 (11 innings)
In the longest game of the season for USF, NSU scored a run in the top of the 11^th inning to edge past USF, 7-6, which twice rallied from deficits of two runs or more to forge a tie. Mike Stubbs (1-0) picked up the win by throwing three innings of one-hit shutout relief. NSU used five total pitchers, including starter Cody Curfman, who worked the first 4 1/3 innings. Freshman Jacob Emerson (0-1) took the loss for USF after throwing two innings and allowing three hits and an unearned run. Sophomore starter Brandon Roesler had a solid outing for USF as he threw seven innings and allowing seven hits and four earning runs with a strikeout. Spencer Dokken (one inning, three hits, one run) and Christian Lazar (one inning, one strikeout) also worked out of the bullpen for USF.

USF was led on offense by sophomore Grant Lung who had his first four-hit game of the season while driving in three runs. Senior first baseman Josh Rehwaldt had three hits and three walks while scoring twice. King collected two hits, including a two-run home runs in USF's three-run fifth inning. NSU was led by Alec Lee with three hits and two RBI. Chad Hinkle added two hits and two RBI.

In the second inning, the Wolves scored a run on a pair of doubles by Sam McMacken and Hinkle for a 1-0 lead. NSU added to their lead as a USF error and base hit from Lee plated McMacken who reached on an error. NSU built a 3-0 lead after a double by Justin Barreneche, who later scored on a wild pitch in the top of the fifth inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, after Sam Michels reached after being hit by a pitch, King started USF's first rally of the game with a two-run home run over the right field fence.  After Rehwaldt walked and moved to second on a balk, Lung reached on a bunt single. With one out, Lung and Rehwaldt pull a double steal with Rehwaldt stealing home to tie the game at 3-3 through five innings.

NSU answered by scoring a pair of runs in the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly from Hinkle and pinch runner Jeffrey Disla scoring on a wild pitch. But USF answered back by scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to forge a 5-5 tie. With one out, King and Rehwaldt singled and both scored on a double by Lung.

After NSU pushed across a run in the top of the eighth inning, USF again answered as Lung's RBI single plated Trey Hubers with the tying run as the game moved to the ninth inning tied at 6-6. NSU pushed across the game-winning run in the 11^th inning as Isaiah Chevalier's squeeze bunt plated Justin Barreneche with the go-ahead run in the see-saw affair.
 
Game 2 – Sioux Falls 7 Northern State 3
In game two, Alex Loosbrock dominated NSU on the mound and with the help of a six-run USF first inning helped the Cougars pick up their first conference win.

In going six innings, Loosbrock had his longest outing of the season and tied for the longest of his career (UMary, April 19, 2018). He allowed just three hits and one earned run while setting a career-high with eight strikeouts in throwing 104 pitches. Finishing up for USF was Leo Ramos (2/3 innings, two runs, one strikeout) and Mitchell Lyall (1/3 inning, one strikeout).

The Cougars struck for six runs on four hits in the first inning and added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Loosbrock shut down NSU in the first, the Cougars gave him the support he needed in the bottom of the inning. Lung had his fifth RBI of the game with a run-scoring single which scored King for a 1-0 lead. Rehwaldt, who had walked, scored on Robinson's RBI ground out for a 2-0 lead. Lung came home on a Ryan Bernardy RBI single for a 3-0 lead.   After Bernardy stole second and Kyle Gulbrandson reached on a field error, Bernardy scored on Brennan Gabriel's perfectly placed bunt single. Gabriel stole second and Roy Nielsen IV had his third RBI in the past two games by laying down a squeeze bunt to score Gulbrandson. On an attempted steal, Ryan Meyer, who had walked, was caught stealing but Gabriel stole home as the Cougars led, 6-0.

NSU was also to put up a run in the fourth inning but when Loosbrock left the game, USF had a7-1 lead. USF's seventh run came home as Robinson doubled and later scored on a double steal with Robinson swiping home and Gabriel, who walked taking seven.

USF had four stolen bases in the game and had hits from six players including King, Lung, Robinson, Bernardy, Gabriel and Nielsen.

NSU, which scored twice in the seventh inning, was led offensively by Hayden Houts with two hits and two RBI. Zach Hrvol started and took the loss for NSU. He allowed six runs, three earned, with four hits in two innings.