SIOUX FALLS – Led by solid pitching from Keenahn Coyle, Andrew Maslowski and Alex Krout plus six RBI from Tyler Cate, the University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team (19-15, 14-15 NSIC) ran its winning streak to seven games with a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader sweep of Winona State (20-14, 17-12), 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday at Sioux Falls Stadium.
 
With the sweep, USF moved into a tie for eighth place in the NSIC standings with Northern State, which has lost four straight with both teams sitting at 14-15. The Cougars moved to 19-15 overall, which is the most wins in a season since winning 19 in 2017. The seven-game winning streak is the most since winning eight straight from March 29 to April 4, 2015.
 
On Sunday, USF and Winona State wrap up the three-game series with a noon start. Prior to the start of the game, USF will hold Senior Day for eight seniors including infielder Ryan Meyer, catcher Sam Michels, third baseman Zane Butts, pitcher Keenahn Coyle, pitcher Payton Livingston, pitcher Charles Roskowiak, first baseman Ryan Bernardy, and pitcher,  Anthony Reese.
 
After winning a pair of hard fought games, USF Head Coach Grant Hieb was pleased and noted that USF did the job on the mound, at the plate and in the field with critical clutch plays in each of those areas. Connor King had a pair of dazzling defensive plays in center field while the pitching staff made crucial pitches in tight situations all day.
 
"Keenahn (Coyle) did a great job of setting the tone in game one and getting us some early zeros. It was huge for him to do so after we jumped ahead right away. With him, going the distance, it was huge to save our bullpen," said Hieb.  "It was great to see our offense respond with Noah Buss's home run and Tyler Cate's big hit. In game two, we had the same recipe we have been using for success lately. Our starter – Andrew Maslowski – worked deep into the game and that we had big hits, including Tyler (Cate's) three-run homer to give us a lead. Our guys are competing and its fun to watch right now. Hopefully we can keep it going tomorrow," he said.
 
In the doubleheader, Cate had three hits in eight at bats with a triple and home run producing six RBI, which is his best two-game total of his career.
 
Stat Breakdown – Over the last seven games, USF is outhitting opponents, .290-to.249 with a 40-to-24 advantage in runs and 58-55 margin in hits. USF has a .425 slugging mark and .392 OBP with eight steals and a .961 fielding mark. Tyler Cate has 10 hits in 25 at bats for a .400 average. He has a team-best seven RBI and a .600 slugging mark. Noah Buss has two home runs and a .333 average while Connor King has six RBI, seven runs and six hits in the stretch. USF's pitchers have been solid with a 2.53 earned run average with 42 strikeouts and just nine walks. Andrew Maslowski has a 2-0 mark and a 1.98 earned run average while Keenahn Coyle is also 2-0 with a 2.70 earned run average with 14 strikeouts and just one walk. Alex Krout has put together a 0.00 earned run average with three of his five saves on the year. He has eight strikeouts and has not allowed an earned run.
 
Game 1 – Sioux Falls 6 Winona State 4 (7 innings)
In the opener, Keenahn Coyle (3-1) earned his third win with his second straight complete game to lead the Cougars to a 6-4 win.  Coyle, who has won three of his last four starts, allowed six hits and a single earned run with nine strikeouts and no walks in throwing 86 pitches to earn the victory.
 
After USF led 3-1 and WSU tied the game in the sixth inning on a home run by Austin Savary, the Cougars came up big in the bottom of the frame. With two out, Noah Buss hammered his second home run of the season over the right field fence to give USF a 4-3 lead. Then, Tyler Cate had a two-run triple as USF led, 6-3. WSU scored a run in the seventh inning but Coyle stopped them as he earned the complete game win.
 
Also providing help on offense was Zane Butts with two hits in three at bats. Cate had two hits and two RBI while Connor King had a hit and two runs scored. Cameron Kramer took the loss for WSU as he allowed six hits and six runs with four strikeouts.
 
Game 2 – Sioux Falls 6 Winona State 4 (9 innings)
In game two, Tyler Cate hit a three-run home run and Connor King had a two-run triple to back a solid start by Andrew Maslowski (4-3) in USF's 6-4 win.
 
Cate, who homered in the third inning to give USF a 3-0 lead, finished with a career-best four RBI while Jared Binsfeld had two hits as did Ryan Meyer, who also had two runs scored. After USF took the 3-0 lead on Cate's home run, they added a single run in the fifth inning and two in the sixth inning on King's clutch two-out triple.
 
Maslowski allowed nine hits and three runs with a strikeout across 6 1/3 innings. Payton Livingston worked 1/3 of an inning before Alex Krout closed with his fifth save as he allowed four hits and just one run in 2 1/3 innings.
 
Austin Savary (2-2) took the loss for Winona State as he allowed six runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.