SIOUX FALLS- The University of Sioux Falls Baseball squad (1-5) will open their Spring Break Trip with doubleheaders against West Virginia Wesleyan on Friday (March 6) and Grand Valley State on Saturday (March 7). In Florida, the Cougars will play seven games at the Russmatt Central Florida Invitational from March 6-10.
USF opens play against West Virginia Wesleyan (1-12) at 8 am on Friday. The two teams have never played before and will match up in a double header with the second game expected to start at 10 am. On Saturday, March 7, USF will play Grand Valley State (7-2) in a doubleheader at 1:45/3:45 at Auburndale, Fla. USF is 0-2 all-time with GVSU with both losses a year ago on March 8, 2019. USF fell, 10-3 and 8-3 against GVSU a year ago.
On Monday, March 9 at 9 am, the Cougars will meet familiar foe and fellow NSIC member No. 25 Minnesota State (2-2) in Sanford, Fla. The Cougars trail MSU, 15-0, all-time in the series between two schools. USF also faces two new opponents including Wayne State of Mich. (7-2), at 12:30 pm on March 9in Sanford, Fla., before meeting No. 7 Ashland (5-1) at 9 am on Tuesday, March 10 in Auburndale, Fla.
Season Review -
USF opened the season with an 8-5 loss to Montana State-Billings and a 5-0 setback to Colorado St. Pueblo before exploding for a 17-3 win against MSU-Billings. In their win USF had a season high 17 hits as
Brennan Albert was 3-of-4 with four RBIs. Ryan Bernady added three hits and three runs with two RBI while
Grant Lung had three hits and four runs while
Trey Hubers supplied a pair of hits.
Alex Krout earned his first career win by going five innings and allowing just one earned run.
Jack Blogg worked the final two frames and gave up two hits. The Cougars returned to Denver but dropped three games to Metro State, falling 12-2, 14-4 and 7-6. USF had a solid outing from
Alex Krout on the mound, who worked 6 1/3 innings and allowed nine hits and four runs with four strikeouts. Lung had four hits in five at bats with two runs scored in his best game of the season. Senior
Ryan Bernardy had three hits, RBI and run scored as the Cougars had 15 hits.
Sioux Falls Cougars (1-5)
The Cougars, under third year head coach
Grant Hieb, has started 1-5 but have put together a couple of high-scoring games, winning 17-3 over Montan State Billings in which USF had a season-high 17 hits. In a 7-6 loss to Metro State, USF led for most of the game before dropping a tough decision. In that high scoring affair, USF had 15 hits.
On January 16
th, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) office released the NSIC Preseason Release and Coaches Poll. USF received 31 points in the Preseason Coaches Poll, placing the Cougars at 14th in the conference.
So far, USF is hitting .253 as a team with a .335 slugging mark and .366 OBP. USF has 13 extra base hits, including 10 doubles. They also have two steals in four tries and 30 RBI.
On the mound, USF has an 8.80 earned run averaged.
Alex Krout has a 3.97 ERA in two starts when he has allowed five earned runs in 11 1/3 innings.
Matt Graham is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three appearances and two starts. She has a team-high 11 strikeouts.
At the plate, senior
Ryan Bernardy has a team-high .389 batting averaging with four RBI, nine total bases, seven hits with a .500 slugging mark and .476 OBP. Junior shortstop
Grant Lung is hitting .364 with eight hits, seven runs, three doubles and 13 total bases. He has a .591 slugging mark and .444 OBP. Twice this season, he has games with three or more hits.
Brennan Albert own a .318 batting average with seven hits and six RBI. He owns a .455 slugging mark and a .400 OBP. Jacob Binsfield has a .304 average and is one of five players hitting over .300. Binsfield has seven hits, six RBI, .348 slugging mark and .346 OBP.
