SIOUX FALLS – The University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team (3-18, 1-7 NSIC) dropped a 12-1 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference decision to No. 4 St. Cloud State (19-3, 7-1 NSIC) on Sunday night at Ronken Field.

USF starter Keenahn Coyle (0-4) took the loss for USF after throwing 5 1/3 innings and allowing 12 hits and nine runs – eight earned – with four strikeouts in throwing 95 pitches. Also working on the mound for USF was Spencer Dokken (3 hits, three runs), Payton Livingston (2/3 innings) and Mitchell Lyall (one inning, one hit, one strikeout).

USF had five hits including two singles by Ryan Bernardy. Sam Michels doubled and Grant Lung and Roy Nielsen IV also had singles. USF scored in the seventh inning on a single by Bernardy and double from Michels with Bernardy scoring on an RBI groundout by Kyle Gulbrandson.

SCSU starter Sheldon Miks improved to 5-1 on the season after throwing five scoreless innings. He allowed just three hits and had seven strikeouts with one walk. Zach Walz closed for SCSU as he worked two innings and allowed a run on two hits with a strikeout.

In the top of the first inning, Matthew Meyer and Mitch Mallek hit solo home runs to give SCSU a 2-0 lead.  In the top of the fifth inning, Matt Quade hit a two-run homer as the Huskies led, 4-0. In the sixth inning SCSU broke the game open with eight runs on six hits and an error by USF.  SCSU was led on offense by Mitch Mallek who had four hits and a home run. Matthew Meyer and Joseph Jordan also homered for the Huskies.

Next for USF will be a mid-week NSIC doubleheader against Southwest Minnesota State on Wednesday, March 27 in Sioux Falls.