SIOUX FALLS – Led by the offensive exploits of Josh Rehwaldt and Alex Robinson, the University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team (7-23, 5-12 NISC) scored a season-high 20 runs in a game two victory to earn a split of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader with Bemidji State (3-23, 2-12 NSIC) on Sunday at the Birdcage. The Cougars dropped a heart-breaking 5-4 decision in game one and exploded offensively for a 20-2 win in game two.  

The two teams will play again on Monday at 2 p.m. at the Birdcage.

After BSU rallied to win game one 5-4 with a walk off home run from Wyatt White, the Cougars rebounded with their highest season output with a 20-2 win in game two as Rehwaldt had four hits, including two long home runs, and five RBI, while Alex Robinson had three hits for the third straight game. With the game two win, USF picked up its third win in four games.

In the game two victory, USF had six runs in the second inning and a season-best 10 runs in the fourth inning to win the run-rule shortened game. USF had 20 runs in a game for the first time since a 21-13 decision over Wayne State on April 29, 2018 in Wayne, Neb. USF, which recorded a season-best 16 hits, scored 20 runs at the Birdcage for the first time since a 20-2 win over Upper Iowa on April 23, 2017.  In that game two years ago, USF also had 10 runs in an inning (first inning).

On the day, Robinson had six hits in nine at bats with six RBI and a run scored. Robinson had nine hits in the last 13 at bats and raised his average 42 points to .247.  Rehwaldt raised his average to .346 with four hits in eight at bats with five RBI. He had five RBI in a game for the second time this year and recorded four hits for the first time. With two home runs in game two, Rehwaldt had his first multi-home run game of the season and now has five on the season and 23 in his career.

G1 – Bemidji State 5 USF 4 (7 innings)
Despite a stellar start from sophomore Alex Loosbrock, USF dropped a 5-4 decision to BSU, which scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn the win. The Cougars led 4-1 before the Beavers mounted the rally with Wyatt White's two-run walk off home run providing the Beavers with their third win of the season.

Loosbrock allowed just six hits and one earned run across six innings with nine strikeouts and four walks. Christian Lazar (2-1) took the loss after allowing two hits and four unearned runs while striking out a hitter in 2/3 inning of work.  Treyvn Wells earned his first win after throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings with a strikeout for the Beavers.

USF was led offensively by Robinson who had three hits and three RBI. Robinson had his second straight game of three hits, a season-high. Nash Dalzell provided two hits and an RBI.

In the top of the third inning, USF scored four runs, including three on a three-run double from Robinson and an RBI single by Dalzell.

In the bottom of the third inning, BSU loaded the bases on three singles but Loosbrock worked out of the jam by striking out the final two batters to preserve the lead.

The Beavers pushed one run across in the sixth inning and then after Loosbrock left the game had a four-run seventh inning to pick up the win.
 
G2 – Sioux Falls 20 Bemidji State 2 (7 innings)
USF used a season-best offensive performance to bounce back after a heart-breaking loss in game one. The Cougars had a season-best 20 runs on a season-high 16 hits as Rehwaldt had four hits, including two long home runs, and five RBI.  Robinson had three hits in a game for the third straight contest while adding three RBI for a second straight game.

USF, which scored six runs in the second, season-best 10 in the fourth inning and two in the fifth and seven innings, also had a career-best three hits from freshman Trey Hubers, who scored three runs and two RBI. Freshman outfielder Connor King had a career-high four runs scored with two hits and two RBI. Grant Lung had a hit and three RBI while freshman Kyle Gulbrandson added two hits and two runs scored.

Sophomore Brandon Roesler started but did not figure in the decision. He worked three innings and allowed just one hit while striking out three in 10 batters faced and 30 total pitchers. John Berroth (1-0) picked up the win after throwing 2 ½ innings of scoreless relief. He gave up four hits and had three strikeouts while throwing 34 pitches. Leo Ramos finished for USF with one inning of scoreless release. Travis Carruth of BSU fell to 0-3 as he started and allowed six hits and six runs (just one earned) in two innings.

USF put six runs on the board on five hits and three errors by BSU in the second inning to grab a commanding lead in bottom of second inning. Roy Nielsen IV, Lung, Robinson and King all had RBIs. King's had a two-run single.  

USF broke the game open in the fourth inning with 10 runs on seven hits, highlighted by a two-run home run from Rehwaldt, who slammed a two-run shot deep over the right field fence which helped USF take an 8-0 lead. It was the start of the 10-run onslaught in the fourth inning. Gulbrandson had an RBI single and Hubers followed with a two-run single to right field as USF's lead grew to 11-0. After batting around, Rehwaldt took a walk and Gulbrandson scored for a 12-0 lead. Lung added to the inning with a two-run single through the right side to scored Nielsen and King for a 14-0 lead. Then, Robinson had a two-run triple for a 16-0 advantage.

After BSU scored a pair on a home run by Matt Kummett, the Cougars had an answer by means of Rehwaldt's bat. For the second time he smashed a two-run homer well over the right field fence for an 18-2 lead. The Cougars added two more runs and closed the game in the seventh inning with a 20-2 win.