SIOUX FALLS – With a complete game effort from Matt Graham and home runs from Ben Serie and Noah Buss, the University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team (17-16, 9-9 NSIC) recorded an 11-4 win over Bemidji State (5-25, 2-14 NSIC) in game one and earned a split of an Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader on Sunday. USF dropped game two, 7-2.

The Cougars stand at 9-9 in the NSIC for eighth in the league. In addition, USF, which will host U-Mary in a site reversal game on Tuesday at 11 am and 1 pm at First National Bank Field in Brandon, S.D., is now 17-15 overall.

Game 1 – Sioux Falls 11 Bemidji State 4 (7 inn.)
Matt Graham (2-4) threw a complete game while Noah Christenson and Noah Buss both drove in three runs as USF used a seven-run seventh inning to earn the 11-7 come-from-behind win over Bemidji State.

After USF took a 3-0 lead after two innings, BSU had a four-run second inning to grab the lead. With Ben Serie's solo home run in the second inning, USF tied the game at 4-4. In the seventh inning USF put together seven hits and seven runs, including a go –ahead two-run single from Noah Christenson and three-run home-run from Noah Buss to earn the win.

Graham had his first complete game of the season as he moved to 2-4 on the season. In seven innings, Graham, a senior from Sioux Falls, allow six hits and four runs while striking out five hitters and walking just one hitter.

Serie, whose home run was his team-best six of the season, had two hits, two runs and two runs scored. Christenson had a run scored, hit and three RBI while Buss had his third home run of the season. Also for USF, Brady Klehr had a pair of hits, run scored and RBI. Tyler Cate also had two hits and two runs.

Travis Carruth (0-3) took the loss as he allowed three hits and three runs. Jackson Back started and worked three innings for BSU. He allowed for hits and three runs. Parker Borg, who hit a HR, had two hits and an RBI to lead BSU's offense.

Game 2 – Bemidji State 7 Sioux Falls 2 (9 inn.)
In game two, Will Lavin (1-7) led BSU to a win by limiting USF to three hits and recording nine strikeouts across seven innings. Jacob Marx finished for BSU, allowing two hits and two runs.
The Beavers took a 5-0 lead in the third inning, including a three-run home run from Sam Kalberer with two hits and three RBI.  BSU also had two hits and two RBI from both Isaiah Biehn and Hunter Daymond.

Andrew Maslowski (3-3) took the loss for USF. He allowed five runs on seven hits in six innings with six strikeouts. Derek Lundgren (inning, two hits, run, walk) and Zachary Shastay (one inning, two hits, run, walk and strikeout) also worked out of the bullpen. USF was led by Ben Serie, who had two hits and a run score. Grant Lung added two hits and an RBI while Brady Klehr had his third home run of the season in the eighth inning.

Stat Breakdown --- After 33 games, USF is ranking fourth in the NSIC with a .286 average with 290 hits and 205 runs. The Cougars, which own a .393 slugging percentage and .374 OBP, have .398 total bases. USF has 61 stolen bases and a .958 fielding percentage. Noah Christenson is second in the league in hitting at .395 with a team-high 47 hits, including seven doubles and two home runs. Christenson, who leads USF with 30 RBI, had a .504 slugging percentage and a team-high .437 OBP with 10 steals. After going 5-of-11 for a .455 against Bemidji State, raised his average to .351. He has a .526 slugging mark and .388 OBP with three home runs and 21 RBI. Tyler Cate is also over .300 at .333 with a .428 OBP and 10 stolen bases. Ben Serie has also raised his average to .312 as he leads USF with six home runs and 22 RBI plus a team-best .541 slugging mark. 

On the mound, USF has a .604 earned run average and totaled 227 strikeouts in 249 innings. Alex Krout leads the NSIC with six saves and has a 2.76 earned run average. Among starters, Caleb Ditmarson leads USF with a 4-2 record and a 3.70 earned run average. He has a team-high 47 strikeouts.