FAYETTE, IOWA – With Grayson Skinner winning his first career game in a crucial bullpen outing and Tyler Blackburn providing three hits in a 14-hit attack, the University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team (21-19, 13-12 NSIC) earned a split with Upper Iowa (9-22, 7-13 NSIC) after a 7-6 victory in 10^th innings in game two at Robertson Woods Field. 

It was certainly a day with a lot of innings as the two teams combined to play extra innings in both games and a total of 18 extra frames. USF, which lost a heartbreaker, 4-3 in eight innings, in the opener, moved to 21-19 overall and sit 13-12 in the NSIC. USF sits in sixth place in the NSIC with the top eight earning postseason tournament berths at the conclusion of the conference season. With the split, USF now owns an 11-9 record all-time against UIU with six wins in the last eight meetings.

Game 1 – Upper Iowa 4 USF 3 (8 inn.)
After rallying down 2-0 to tie the game at 3-3, the Cougars dropped a heartbreaker to Upper Iowa in the eighth inning of the opener. The Peacocks earned the win when Jerry Garcia had an RBI single with one out to earn the 4-3 walk-off victory in eight innings

USF's Mason Leonard, who had a career-best 10 strikeouts, started but did not figure in the decision. He allowed just four hits and two runs across 5 1/3 innings. Zach Shastay (one run), Connor McGonigal (hit) and Alex Krout (2 inn., five hits, one run, two strikeouts) also worked out of the bullpen. Krout took the loss as he fell to 0-2 on the season.

After Samuel Grushkin hit a two-run home run in the second inning, USF rallied back. They tied the game with a pair of runs in the fifth inning as Kyle Gulbrandson doubled to score pinch runner Weston Gjerde. Then, Connor King brought home Gulbrandson to tie the game at 2-2. In the sixth inning, UIU took the lead on a single by Cael Luzum which plated Kainoa Torres.  USF again worked a tie when Noah Christenson had a clutch two-out run-scoring double which brought home Tyler Cate for a 3-3 tie. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Garcia singled through the left side which scored Torres.

USF's offense was led by Tyler Cate with two hits and a run scored and Trey Hubers, who had two hits. Christenson and King both had a hit and RBI.

Luzum had three hits to lead UIU. Sam Marhefke picked up the win in relief of starter Colin Lacey. Marhefke allowed a run on two hits in two innings.

Game 2 – Sioux Falls 7 Upper Iowa 6 (10 innings.)
With Grayson Skinner earning his first career win and the Cougars rallying for two runs in the bottom of the 10^th inning, USF picked up its 13^th league win in a 7-6 game two decision over the Peacocks.

In a marathon game two, the Cougars led 5-2 before UIU rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning and force extra innings. Then, USF was aided by an UIU error before Kyle Gulbrandson's sacrifice brought home Weston Gjerde for a second run and a 7-5 lead. Skinner then closed the game with a strike out, which was his third of the game.

Skinner (1-0) was the fifth USF pitcher to work in the game. He allowed two hits and a run with three strikeouts and a walk in three innings. Cole Schumacher had a strong start as he allowed just five hits and three earned runs in five innings. He also had three strikeouts and three walks. Connor McGonigal (1 2/3 inn., one hit, 0 earned runs, two strikeouts, two walks) Derek Lundgren (walk, HBP) and Alex Krout (1/3 inning, no runs) also provided help out of the game.

USF's offense was led by Tyler Blackburn who had three hits in three at bats with an RBI. Trey Hubers had two hits and two RBI and Brady Klehr and Ben Serie also added two hits. Among Klehr's hits was a solo home run, his fifth of the season. Kyle Gulbrandson had two hits and two RBI as well as laid down a sacrifice.

Klehr opened the scoring by hitting his fifth home run of the season for a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. USF also added a sacrifice fly from Kyle Gulbrandson which scored Trey Hubers, who had followed Klehr's home run with a single. UIU scored a run in the bottom of the second inning and tied the game on a home run by Samuel Grushkin in the fourth inning. In the top of the sixth inning, Ben Serie opened with a double and moved to third on a single by Brady Klehr, who had his second hit of the day.

After Klehr stole second base, Hubers had a two-run single to bring home Serie and Klehr for a 4-2 lead. After USF added another run in the sixth inning, UIU answered with a pair as USF led, 5-4.  After UIU scored a game-tying run on an error.  In the top of the 10^th inning, Grant Lung drew a walk and later scored on a fielding error by UIU. Pinch runner Weston Gjerde later scored on a sacrifice by Gulbrandson.  

Stat Breakdown - 

Vs. Upper Iowa -- USF hit .310 on the day with 10 runs on 22 hits in 71 at bats and had a .408 slugging mark with a .375 OBP. USF had three steals and four doubles to go with a home run. On the hill, the Cougars had a 4.15 earned run average with 20 strikeouts against 11 walks through 17.1 innings. USF had four hits in nine at bats from Trey Hubers for a .444 average. Kyle Gulbrandson had three hits and three RBI while hitting .500. Tyler Blackburn also had three hits in six at bats and hit .500 while fielding at 1.000 on 12 putouts. Ten players had at least two hits on the day. 

Season -- After today, USF is hitting .290 with a .394 slugging mark and a .377 OBP. The Cougars have totaled 358 hits with 24 home runs, 46 doubles, five triples and 486 total bases. USF has scored 243 runs and stolen 72 bases. Leading USF is third baseman Noah Christenson who is hitting .363 in 40 games with 53 hits, 41 RBI and 67 total bases while registering a .459 slugging and .412 OBP with 11 stolen bases. Brady Klehr is hitting .339 with five home runs, 26 RBI and a .529 slugging mark. USF's Kyle Gulbrandson is hitting .314 in making 13 starts in 16 games. He has nine RBI and a .378 OBP. Ben Serie is hitting .308 with a team-high seven home runs and a .541 slugging plus .403 OBP. Trey Hubers is batting at .303 with 27 RBI, .357 OBP and eight stolen bases. On the mound, USF has a 5.75 team earned run average with 287 strikeouts across 305.1 innings. Leading the way is Alex Krout with a 2.86 earned run average with eight saves. Among the starters, Caleb Ditmarson leads the way with a 3.70 earned run average, a 4-2 record in seven starts with a team-best 47 strikeouts.