The Cougars (20-21, 16-11 NSIC) faced off against the #8-ranked Minnesota State Mavericks (31-4, 24-3 NSIC) in a competitive doubleheader on at Bowyer Field in Mankato, Minn., earning a split with a 4-2 upset victory in Game 1 and a 2-5 loss in Game 2. The Cougars displayed grit and firepower against one of the nation's elite teams, leaning on clutch hitting and solid pitching to secure the win in the opener before battling hard in the nightcap.

Game 1: Sioux Falls 4, Minnesota State 2

The Cougars shocked the #8 Mavericks with a 4-2 win in Game 1, capitalizing on early offense and lights-out pitching. The Cougars jumped ahead in the first inning when Dominic Vogel singled up the middle and scored on an error. Minnesota State took a 2-1 lead in the third when Louis Magers' on a double that bought two Mavericks around to the plate.

Sioux Falls tied it in the fifth when Iliff smashed a solo home run to right, his 9th of the season, knotting the score at 2-2. The Cougars surged ahead in the seventh with two runs: Dominic Vogel brough home Noah Christenson on a fielder's choice, and Iliff's single scored Ryan Gouldin, who had singled, giving Sioux Falls a 4-2 edge.

Brady Baur (2-2) was stellar, earning the win with 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Myles Rees sealed the victory with a scoreless seventh for his second save, facing three batters. 

Key Hitters:

• Mitch Iliff: 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 run, 1 HR
• Noah Christenson: 2-for-3, 1 run, 1 SB

Key Pitchers:

• Brady Baur: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 5 K (Win)
• Myles Rees: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB (Save)

Game 2: Minnesota State 5, Sioux Falls 2

In Game 2, the Cougars fell 2-5 to the #8 Mavericks in a hard-fought contest. Sioux Falls struck first in the fourth when Jaxon Haase launched a solo home run to left-center, taking a 1-0 lead. Minnesota State flipped the script in the fifth, grabbing a 2-1 lead on two-run homer. The Mavericks extended their lead to 4-1 in the sixth with another two-run blast.

Minnesota State added an unearned run in the eighth, making it 5-1. Sioux Falls rallied in the ninth, with Noah Christenson's RBI double scoring Haase, who walked and stole second, closing the gap to 5-2.

Dylan Immel (3-3) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits over 5.1 innings with one walk, and four strikeouts. Jace Coleman pitched a scoreless inning with three strikeouts, while Owen Weadge and Garrett Oswald combined for 1.2 innings, allowing one unearned run.

Key Hitters:

• Noah Christenson: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 2B, 1 BB
• Mitch Iliff: 2-for-4
• Jaxon Haase: 1-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 HR, 1 SB

Key Pitchers:

• Dylan Immel: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 4 K (Loss)
• Jace Coleman: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

Up Next

After splitting with #8 Minnesota State, the Sioux Falls Cougars (20-21, 16-11 NSIC) return home to face the U-Mary Marauders in a three-game series at Sioux Falls Stadium. The series begins with a doubleheader on Friday, April 18, 2025, starting at 1:30 p.m., followed by a single game on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at noon, as the Cougars aim to keep their momentum rolling.