BRANDON, S.D. – Despite totaling 22 hits and 13 runs, the University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team (17-18, 9-11 NSIC) dropped a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games to U-Mary (13-18, 5-11 NSIC) on Tuesday afternoon at First National Bank Field. The Marauders edged USF, 8-7, in game one before taking a 9-6 decision in game two.

With the loss, USF fell to 9-11 in league play and 17-18 overall. USF, which will face Concordia St. Paul in a three-game series at First National Bank Field on Friday and Saturday, April 15-16, fell to ninth in the standings after suffering a third straight league loss.

Game 1 – U-Mary 8 USF 7 (& innings.)

In the opener, U-Mary had a walk-off home run by Noah Hull in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead the Marauders to the victory.

USF, which totaled 13 hits, led 2-0 and 5-3 before a three-run third inning gave U-Mary a 6-5 lead. It was 7-6 in favor of the Marauders entering the seventh inning when the Cougars were able to push across the game-tying run as Trey Hubers, who had three wins and two RBI, drove home Connor King, who had four hits and two runs with an RBI.

However, U-Mary answered with the home run to win a back-and-forth opener.

Aside from King collecting four hits for the second time this year, and Hubers have a three-hit game for the third time in 2022, the Cougars had two hits from Kyle Gulbrandson.

Mason Leonard started for USF and allowed four hits and five earned runs with four strikeouts in three innings. Alex Bertram allowed an earned run in 1 2/3 innings with a strikeout. Taking the loss was Alex Krout (0-1) who allowed one hit and one run with two strikeouts in 1 1/3 inning.

The Marauders had two hits from Calvin James, who had his six of the year. Gabe Ridenour (1-1) picked up the win in relief as he worked two innings and gave up two hits and a run.

Game 2 – U-Mary 9 USF 6 (9 innings)
In game two, USF jumped to a 2-1 lead but U-Mary had five home runs and earned a 9-6 win.

U-Mary had four runs in the fourth inning and added a run in the fifth inning and two in the sixth frame before scoring in the eighth inning to holding off USF. The Cougars add single runs in the second and third frames and one in the fifth inning before pushing across three in the seventh inning.

USF had two hits and two runs from Tyler Cate and two hits, a run scored and RBI by Brady Klehr. Ben Serie had a double, run scored, RBI and a stolen base which was his sixth of the season.
Cole Schumacher (0-4) took the loss for USF as he allowed seven earned runs on nine hits in five innings while striking out five batters. Derek Lundgren (two innings, two hits, run, three strikeouts), Zachary Shastay (1/3 inning, two hits, run, strikeout) and Connor McGonigal (2/3 inning, one hit) also worked for USF.

Ty Jones earned the win for USF. In moving to 1-0, Jones worked five innings and allowed seven hits and three runs with five strikeouts. Derek Shoen finished for U-Mary and did not allow a hit while striking out one in two innings.

U-Mary had three hits from Michael Polson, Kendall Keller, included two home runs) and James Martin, who also hit a home run, his sixth of the season. U-Mary had 14 hits for the game.

Stat Breakdown –

Over the last five games, USF is 2-3 against Bemidji State and U-Mary. The Cougars hit .297 with 47 hits, 31 runs, three doubles, four home runs and 64 total bases. USF had a .405 slugging and .369 OBP with 10 steals in 14 attempts. Brady Klehr led USF with a .444 average with eight hits in 18 at bats. Klehr had a .667 slugging and a .444 OBP. Trey Hubers hit .353 with six hits in 17 at bats and had four RBI with a .471 slugging and .476 OBP. On the mound, USF had a 7.11 earned run average with 38 strikeouts in 38 innings. USF had one complete game, one saves and walked 16. Caleb Ditmarson had a 2.84 earned run average with a win in one start and had seven strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

With 47 hits over the past five games, USF pushed its season average to .290 for fifth in the NSIC. The Cougars have totaled 312 hits in 1,077 at bats with 39 doubles, 20 home runs and 421 total bases. The Cougars own a .391 slugging and .377 OBP with 62 steals in 82 attempts.

Noah Christenson, who is fourth in the league in hitting, has a .389 average with a team-high 34 runs, 49 hits, 30 RBI, 62 total bases and .438 OBP. He is one of three players with double digit steals with 10. With a .444 average over the last five games, Brady Klehr has pushed his average to .356 with 37 hits, team-high eight doubles, three home runs and 23 RBI. He has a .519 slugging and .391 OBP. Tyler Cate is hitting .328 and has 41 hits, 10 steals in 12 attempts and seven doubles. Ben Serie is also over .300 at .308 with 36 hits, including a team-high six home runs. He has 24 RBI and that is third on USF. Trey Hubers, who is at .295, is second on the team with 25 RBI. Grant Lung leads USF with 13 steals (15 att.) and has 33 hits, including five doubles.

On the mound, USF has a 6.26 earned run average with 242 strikeouts in 263.0 innings. USF has three complete games and walked 119 batters.