SIOUX CITY, IOWA – With
Brady Klehr's game-winning run and a stellar outing from
Mason Leonard in a 3-2 win in game one, the University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team (14-11, 6-4 NSIC) split a doubleheader with Northern State (9-11, 4-3) on Thursday (March 31) at Bishop Mueller Field on the Briar Cliff College campus.
USF earned its third win in four games with a walk-off eighth inning 3-2 decision in game one. In game 2, NSU built a 3-0 lead and held off a late USF rally to earn the split. With today's results, the Cougars finished their 10-game home stand at 6-4.
GAME 1 – Sioux Falls 3 Northern 2 (8 inn.)
Brady Klehr had three hits and scored the game-winning walk-off run in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Cougars picked up a 3-2 victory over Northern State in a cross divisional NSIC matchup.
USF had a standout pitching effort from
Mason Leonard, who started and threw a career-best six innings with a career-high nine strikeouts. He allowed just two hits and two runs. Earning the win was
Derek Lundgren (3-1) finished for USF and earned his third win in four decisions. He recorded a strikeout and walked a batter but did not allow a hit.
Klehr scored a run and had three hits to lead the USF offense, which totaled nine hits.
Grant Lung also had three hits and recorded two RBI.
Trey Hubers added two hits.
After NSU scored a run in the first inning, USF answered as
Grant Lung had a two-run single to bring home
Connor King (walk) and
Noah Christenson (walk) for a 2-1 lead. NSU tied the game in the top of the second but neither team added on until USF had the winning run in the eighth inning. Klehr opened the inning with a base hit to left field and moved to second on a sacrifice by
Connor King. After
Noah Christenson was passed intentionally, Hubers hit a ground ball that was misplayed on the infield by NSU and Klehr came around to score on the play.
Game 2 – Northern State 3 Sioux Falls 0 (7 inn.)
Northern State rode the strong pitching outing of Matt Otto (5-1), who earned his fifth win of the season in throwing a complete game. USF rallied late but fell just short of recording a win.
The Wolves scored single runs in the first, third and fifth innings to take a 3-0 lead. In the second inning, USF had three base hits but
Ben Serie was thrown out at the plate after
Zach Andreasen singled with two out. Then, the Cougars rallied in the sixth inning.
Brady Klehr, who had four hits in the double header in seven at bats, singled to left field to open the inning. He stole second and when
Connor King singled to left field, Klehr scored to cut the lead to 3-1. Then,
Noah Christenson had his team-leading 23
rd RBI of the season to plate King as USF trailed, 3-2. With runners on second and third, USF was unable to get the hit that could have given them a lead.
Cole Schumacher (0-2) took the loss but had a solid outing as he allowed three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts across five innings.
Alex Bertram (one inning, one walk, no hits) and
Alex Krout (one inning, one hit) each worked an inning of relief.
In the second game, USF had base hits from
Ben Serie,
Grant Lung,
Noah Buss,
Trey Hubers,
Noah Christenson,
Zach Andreasen,
Connor King and
Brady Klehr.
Next up for the Cougars will be a 3-game series at St. Cloud State, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 2 at 1:30/3:30 pm and a noon start on Sunday, April 3.
Stat Breakdown – vs. NSU – Klehr leads the way
Grant Lung hit .667 with four hits in six at bats and a .714 on base percentage to lead USF which hit .288 as a team. The Cougars, which also had a big day from
Brady Klehr with four hits and two runs and a .571 average, had 17 hits and a .364 OBP. USF was 4-of-5 on stolen bases. USF's pitching was stellar with strong starts from
Mason Leonard (5 innings, 7 hits, 3 runs, career-high nine strikeouts) and
Cole Schumacher (5 innings, seven hits, three runs, three strikeouts). USF had a 3.00 earned run average with 13 strikeouts against six walks in 15 innings of work.
Season Stat Breakdown –
Through 25 games, USF continues to hit the ball well with a .296 batting average and .384 OBP plus a .402 slugging mark. USF has 162 runs, 226 hits, 28 doubles, four triples and 15 home runs in a 14-11 season.
Noah Christenson, who came into the game second in the NSIC and 20
th in the NSIC, is hitting .422 with a team-high 38 hits and 23 RBI. He has a team-best .451 OBP.
Tyler Cate is raking at .359 with 33 hits, .402 slugging and .429 OBP. He is 8-of-9 on steals.
Brady Klehr jumped his average to .329 and has 14 RBI and a .486 slugging mark. Seven hitters or batting at least .299 or better.
With a strong outing on the mound Thursday, USF dropped its season earned run average to 5.89. The Cougars have two complete game, five saves, a shutout and 179 strikeouts in 188 innings.
Caleb Ditmarson leads USF with a 3-1 record and a 2.97 earned run average. He has a team-high 35 strikeouts in 30.1 innings.
Alex Krout has four saves and a 3.14 earned run average.