DENVER, COLO. – Tyler Cate, Trey Hubers and Jared Binsfeld combined for seven hits, seven RBI and five runs to lead the University of Sioux Falls (5-1) to a 15-8 game two win over Metro State-Denver and a split of the doubleheader at the Assembly Athletic Complex on the MSU-Denver campus.

The Cougars, which lost game one, 10-3, scored double-digit runs for the fourth time this season and had double-digit hits with 11 for the fifth time.

USF and Metro State will play another doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 27, beginning at noon.

With the victory, USF ended an 11-game losing streak to Metro State that dated to 2017. The Cougars had four players with multi-hit games. In the opener MSU took an 8-0 lead en route to the 10-3 win.

USF hit .279 on the day with 17 hits and 18 runs while slugging .377 and an on-base percentage of .430. Tyler Cate was 4-of-6 on the day with two runs, two RBI and a double. Trey Hubers had three hits in seven at bats with three RBI with a .500 OBP. Brady Klehr, Jared Binsfeld and Grant Lung all had three hits. Binsfeld also homered for the first time this season. On the mound, USF had 11 strikeouts in 15 innings.

Game 1 – Metro State 10 USF 3 (9 innings)
In the opener, Reichle Arcilise moved to 3-1 on the season by allowing four hits across five innings with seven strikeouts as MSU-Denver to a 10-3 win. Brad Helton finished for the Roadrunners, allowing two hits and three runs with a strikeout.

After USF loaded the bases in the first inning but couldn't take advantage of the opportunity, Arcilise took over and held USF scoreless across five innings. MSU scored two runs in the second inning and two more in the third frame before putting up four more in the fifth inning for an 8-0 lead.

Binsfeld spoiled the shutout for MSU as he slammed a three-run home run in the sixth inning. Binsfield had one of USF's six hits. Grant Lung added a pair of hits and scored a run. Hubers, Klehr and Cate also had a hit. 

Matt Graham (0-1) took the loss for USF as he worked 4 1/3 innings and allowed 10 hits and eight runs with three strikeouts. Logan Parker-Sjoberg worked 2 2/3 innings with two strikeouts. He allowed three hits and two runs. Jake Haugen worked a scoreless inning of relief.

Game 2 – USF 15 Metro State 8 (7 innings)
With Tyler Cate, Trey Hubers, Jared Binsfeld and Brady Klehr all totaling multi-hit games, USF had a recharged offense in a 15-8 come-from-behind victory over MSU in game two. Cate had three hits and two runs with two RBI while Trey Hubers added two hits and three RBI and Binsfeld had two hits. Hunter Scruggs also had a hit and two RBI with two runs scored.

USF scored three in the first before MSU-Denver answered with five runs in the home half of the inning. USF tied the game in the second inning with a RBI single from Binsfield and a sacrifice fly by Noah Christenson, the reigning NSIC Player of the Week.

After MSU took a 8-6 lead with two runs in the fourth inning, USF's offense opened the gates and scored 10 unanswered run with three runs in the fifth inning and seven in the sixth frame. USF pushed into the lead with an unearned run and two RBI single to left field by Cate, who had three hits, two runs and two runs scored in the game. In the seven-run sixth inning, Binsfeld, who had two hits and two RBI, had an RBI single while Klehr, who had two hits and two RBI, had a two-run doubled and Christenson added a sacrifice fly.   

Zachary Shastay picked up his first win of the season with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Mason Leonard started (inning, four hits, five runs, two strikeouts, two walks) before Derek Lundgren (2 innings, three hits, two runs, two walks) and Alex Bertram (1/3, one run, two walks) also pitched. Connor McGonigal tossed the final two innings and allowed just a hit with three strikeouts and three walks. 

Quick Hits - WIth four hits today, Tyler Cate is hitting .481 in six game with 13 hits, nine runs and 16 total bases. He has a .593 slugging mark and .533 on-base percentage. Noah Christenson is hitting .462 with a .467 on-ase percentage while Brady Klehr is at .412 with a .7-6 slugging mark and Trey Huber is hitting .400 with a .519 on-base percentage. Senior shortstop Grant Lung is hitting .385 with 10 hits and a .484 on-base percentage. USF is hitting .345 as a team with a .505 slugging mark and a .437 on-base percentage. The Cougars have 16 steals in 17 attempts.