BRANDON, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team (4-19, 2-8 NSIC) had a home run and two hits from Ryan Bernardy and a pitching staff that set a school record for strikeouts in a game in a 5-3 win in game two and a split of an Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader with Southwest Minnesota State (3-12, 2-8 NSIC) on Wednesday night at the First National Bank Field.

On the day USF totaled three home runs as Bernardy has his third home run of the season in game two. In a 13-4 loss in game one, USF had a two-run home run from Josh Rehwaldt and a solo blast from Sam Michels, who belted his first career home run. For Rehwaldt, the home run was the 21^st of his career and third of the season.

In game two, USF trailed 3-0 early before rallying with Bernardy's home run and a four-run fourth inning. After that pitchers from both sides dominated. But USF was able to record 15 strikeouts with no walks in using seven pitchers. USF allowed just one hit over final seven innings. Earlier this year, USF had set the school record with 13 strikeouts against U-Mary on March 17, 2019 which broke the mark of 12 strikeouts against Bemidji State on Feb. 16, 2013.

Game 1 SMSU 13 USF 4
Despite home runs by senior infielder Josh Rehwaldt and sophomore catcher Sam Michels, the Cougars dropped a 13-4 decision in game one.  USF jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning but SMSU responded with 13 unanswered runs in taking the opener.

SMSU starter Spencer Schroeder (1-0) threw a seven-inning complete game as he allowed eight hits and four earned runs with five strikeouts and two walks. USF starter Jacob Emerson (0-2) took his second loss of the season. He allowed seven hits and seven runs with one strikeout in 2 2/3 innings. Also working for USF was Spencer Dokken (1/3 inning, three hits, two runs, one strikeout), Jackson Olson (two innings, four hits, four runs, three earned, four strikeouts and one walk) and Charles Roskowiak (two innings, one hit and three strikeouts). In four outing, Roskowiak has not allowed an earned run and just four hits with four strikeouts across 5 1/3 innings.

Michels hit a two-out RBI single to score freshman outfielder Connor King who walked to open the first inning as USF took a 1-0 lead over SMSU. But then SMSU took control with 13 unanswered runs. In the second inning, SMSU had three doubles and took a 2-1 lead.

In the third inning, SMSU added three more runs as Ben Heichel homered and Brady Lanoue had a two-run single for a 5-1 advantage. Then, Spencer Rudnik hit a two-run double as SMSU extended the lead. By the time the inning ended, SMSU had scored SMSU had seven hits in the inning and aided by a USF error took a 9-1 lead.
SMSU pushed the lead to 13-2 before USF answered in the sixth inning as Michels hits his first career HR, which was a massive shot over the left field fence. In the seventh inning Rehwaldt smashed a two-run home run in the seventh inning as USF cut the deficit to 13-4.

Game 2 -- Sioux Falls 5 SMSU 3

The story of game two was USF's standout pitching and school record for strikeouts with 15 in a game. The Cougars, which used a four-run fourth inning to build a 5-3 lead, utilized the efforts of seven pitchers to earn the win and end a four-game slide.

Starter Payton Livingston worked the first three innings and allowed four hits and three runs with three strikeouts in throwing 57 pitches to 13 batters. His lone mistake was leaving a pitch up and Jake Hendricks, who had two hits in the game for SMSU, hit a three-run home for a 3-0 lead in the first inning. USF responded with five straight to take the lead. First, Ryan Bernardy hit a home run over the left field fence as USF cut SMSU's lead to 3-1 in the second inning. In the bottom of the third inning, Michels reached on a hits batsman and scored on a hit and run plus an error on SMSU's right fielder off a single by Bernardy. In the ensuing at bat Bernardy scored on a double down the right field line. Alex Robinson also doubled in a runner as the Cougars led 5-3.

After the first inning, SMSU had just two more hits and struck out 15 times.

Following Livingston, senior left hander Christian Lazar threw one inning of shutout relief as he struck out the side on 14 pitches. He lowered his era to 2.38 and now has 19 strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings this season. Lazar was followed on the mound by Matt Graham who didn't allow a hit while striking out two hitters. Senior left-hander Mitchell Lyall (1-0) picked up his first win by throwing one inning of shutdown relief and recording two strikeouts. Lyall has a perfect 0.00 ERA in seven appearances and five innings when he has registered seven strikeouts. After Lyall, freshman Sean Nussbaum had two strikeouts in an inning of relief. Sophomore Brandon Roesler also threw an inning of relief as he had two strikeouts and threw 11 pitches, including 10 strikes. Then, Alex Loosbrock earned his first career save in a 1-2-3 ninth inning as he registered a strikeout in throwing 12 pitches.

SMSU starter Jeremy Stouffer (0-4) took the loss which was his fourth of the season. James Hardy finished for SMSU and he threw 4 2/3 innings and allowed one hit with seven strikeouts and four walks.

Next for USF will be a three-game series beginning on Saturday, March 30 against Minot State.