ST. PAUL, MINN. – Grant Lung had a career-best day at the plate and Alex Krout contributed his best relief outing of the season as the University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team (21-19, 16-19 NSIC) rallied for a 13-8 come-from-behind NSIC road win over Concordia St. Paul (15-23, 11-21 NSIC) on Saturday.

With the victory, the Cougars have unofficially clinched eighth place in the NSIC and with it the program's first appearance in the league's postseason tournament since 2016. When the NSIC announces the pairings on Sunday, USF will likely be matched with top seed Minnesota State and head to Mankato for a three-game series on May 13-14.

With the win today, USF has guaranteed themselves a .500 record with their 21^st win (21-19), which is a first in the DII era. USF's 16 league wins (16-19 overall), ties the 2017 team (19-31 overall, 16-24 NSIC) for the most in the DII era. The 21 wins by USF this year is tied with 2016 (21-30-1) for the most victories in a season at the DII level.

At 16-19, USF has a winning percentage of .457, which will be better than Northern State, which is 14-18 but have a game with U-Mary on Sunday and a win would push them to 15-18 but at .454 winning percentage. UMD was also in contention for a spot in the tournament but lost to Bemidji State, 11-10, today to fall to 14-20 and out of the race for that tourney spot.  

"It was a great team win today to clinch a berth in the conference tourney! I am very proud of my guys. They never quit, all season long," said Hieb, whose team opened the season at 4-0 and then won 16 league games as well as a nonconference game with Upper Iowa. "We started off slow in conference play but they kept putting in the work and it paid off as we fought our way back into the race. It was the thing today. We get up early and then they put up eight unanswered and my guys could have easily folded. But they batted and Alex (Krout) came in and pitched his tail off to not allow another run and we came back and got the W! It was fun to watch and it was a great team effort," said Hieb.
 
"I also have to mention Grant Lung, who came alive with the bat and played great defense at shortstop. The guys are excited and it should be a fun series next week at Minnesota State," he said.
 
Breaking down the win – Lung's 3-run HR ties it in 7th
 
In the win today, USF opened a 3-0 lead before the Golden Bears had four runs in the second and two in third and fourth frames to take an 8-3 lead. The Golden Bears had success against USF junior starter Matt Graham, who worked three innings and allowed seven runs and eight hits with a strikeout.

However, behind the special day for Lung, who finished with five hits, including a three-run home run, five RBI and four runs scored, the Cougars rallied to score 10 unanswered runs. USF scored two in the fifth frame, three in the sixth inning and broke the 8-8 tie with a five- spot in the eighth inning.

Aside from Lung, USF had three hits from Connor King, who scored twice while Tyler Cate also had three hits and two runs scored. USF also had two hits and an RBI from Noah Buss, two hits and two RBI from Trey Hubers and two hits and two RBI by senior infielder Zane Butts. In total, USF scored 13 runs on 18 hits.

In the fourth inning, Hieb turned to his relief ace – Alex Krout (5-2) - and he delivered. In six innings, Krout allowed just five hits and did not permit a run. In throwing a season-high 82 pitches (55 strikes), he recorded four strikeouts with just one walk as he moved to 5-2 on the season.

In the first inning, USF opened up a 1-0 lead as King led off with a single and moved to second on a ground out by Cate. He scored on Lung's RBI base hit up the middle.  Lung scored two batters later when Hubers had a run-scoring single up the middle. USF added a run for a 3-0 lead in the second frame after Butts, King and Cate singled with Butts scoring on Lung's sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the second inning, CSP took a 4-3 lead after a three-run home run from Nick Thimsen, who had two homers, three hits and four RBI on the day.

 After scoring two runs on three hits plus a wild pitch and error in the third frame, the Golden Bears received home runs from Chandler Ibach and Thimsen for an 8-3 lead in the fourth innings.
In the fifth inning, USF started its comeback, one of the best and most critical in school baseball program history.

After Lung and Buss singled sandwiched around a walk to Ryan Bernardy, Cougars scored twice on an RBI fielder's choice from Trey Hubers and an error by CSP to cut the lead to 8-5.

In the top of the sixth inning Cate and King open with base hits and then Lung hit a clutch three-run home run to tie the game at 8-8. It was his fourth home run of the season and eighth in his career.

In the eighth inning, USF broke the 8-8 tie in a big way. Cate singled and was followed by Lung with his fifth hit of the day. Cate moved to third on a fly ball out by Bernardy and scored the go-ahead run on Buss's RBI hit. Hubers followed with a hit to load the bases. With two out, Ryan Meyer had a clutch two-run double down the left field line. Butts followed with a two-run single as the Cougars had five runs on six hits in the inning and took a 13-8 lead. 

Stats Breakdown – Cate and King spark plugs at top of lineup
Over the last two games, USF has totaled 23 runs on 37 hits and outscored CSP, 23-9. In the three-game series with CSP, the Cougars totaled a .368 average with 42 hits, 27 runs, four doubles and four home runs with a .509 slugging and .438 on-base percentage. USF stole nine bases in 10 attempts and had 58 total bases.

Leading the way this weekend was Trey Hubers with five hits in eight at bats for a .625 average. He scored three runs with three RBI.  USF's spark plugs at the top of the lineup have been key. Together, Connor King and Tyler Cate totaled 15 hits in the series with five stolen bases and eight runs. King hit .533 with eight hits in 15 at bats and had 12 total bases, .800 slugging mark and .563 OBP. Cate had seven hits in 15 at bats for a .467 average and had a .500 OBP. Noah Buss had four hits with a home run, and Ryan Meyer also had five hits with four RBI as he hit .357.

With the totals from this weekend, USF is hitting .278 and led by Cate, who has jumped his average to .360 with a .449 slugging and .448 OBP. He has 14 stolen bases and 33 runs with 24 RBI. Hubers and Meyer, both of Brandon, S.D., are now hitting .306 while Connor King has pushed his average to .288 with 40 hits, 40 runs, 14 steals and a .447 OBP.