SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The University of Sioux Falls baseball team etched their names into the program's history books, capping a record-breaking season with a thrilling victory over St. Cloud State and a valiant effort against the nation's #4-ranked Minnesota State Mavericks at The Birdcage. Under the leadership of Head Coach Grant Hieb, the Cougars achieved a program-record 32 wins, secured their highest-ever #4 seed in the NSIC Tournament, and advanced further in the postseason than any USF squad in Division II history. Though their season ended with a narrow 9-7 loss to the top-seeded Mavericks, the Cougars' left their mark with many unforgettable moments.
Game 1: Sioux Falls vs. St. Cloud State (W, 16-11)
The day began with a do-or-die matchup against the St. Cloud State Huskies (28-26), a team USF had previously defeated in the tournament's opening round. The Cougars, riding the momentum of their rallying triumph over Minnesota Duluth the night before, came out swinging. In the first inning, Mitch Iliff singled and scored on Isaac Bonner's RBI single, giving USF an early 1-0 lead. But St. Cloud State responded with a vengeance in the second, capitalizing on a fielding error. Wyatt Tweet's grand slam highlighted a six-run frame, putting the Huskies ahead 6-1.
Undeterred, the Cougars clawed back. In the bottom of the second, William Edwards doubled, and Ryan Gouldin was hit by a pitch, setting the stage for Dominic Vogel's RBI single and Iliff's two-RBI single, cutting the deficit to 6-4. The third inning saw USF seize control, as Iliff's two-RBI double scored Christenson and Gouldin, giving the Cougars a 7-6 lead. The game remained a seesaw battle, with St. Cloud State erupting for four runs in the fifth, including Ethan Krueger's three-run homer, to reclaim a 10-7 advantage.
But the Cougars unleashed their most explosive inning in the sixth. Ben Serie's grand slam ignited a six-run outburst, with Christenson's solo homer and Iliff's double adding to the tally, putting USF ahead 13-10. The Huskies answered with a run in the seventh, but USF sealed the deal in the bottom half. Jaxon Haase's three-run homer, scoring Iliff and Vogel, pushed the lead to 16-11. Myles Rees, who earned the win with 3.1 innings of relief, and Jake Ammann closed the door, securing the Cougars' place in the next round.
Iliff was a standout, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and five RBIs, while Haase (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) and Serie (1-for-5, HR, 4 RBI) provided the power. Christenson added a homer, and Vogel went 3-for-6. The Cougars' 15 hits and four home runs overwhelmed St. Cloud State's pitching staff. Despite early miscues, including two errors, USF's offense and bullpen resilience proved too much for the Huskies.
Game 2: Sioux Falls vs. #4 Minnesota State (L, 7-9)
With their season on the line, the Cougars faced a formidable foe in the #4-ranked, #1-seeded Minnesota State Mavericks (47-6) in the evening matchup. The Mavericks, who had defeated USF 14-5 the previous day, struck first in the second inning when Lincoln Berry's RBI triple scored Jake Berkland, making it 1-0. They extended their lead in the fourth, as Berry's two-RBI triple brought home Mezzenga and Berkland, pushing the score to 3-0.
USF's bats woke up in the fifth, refusing to go quietly. Isaac Bonner's triple set the tone, and a wild pitch later brought him home. Noah Christenson's RBI single and a wild pitch brought the Cougars level at 3-3. The tie was short-lived, as Minnesota State exploded for six runs in the sixth. Zach Stroh's RBI single, Aidan Bryne's RBI single, and a series of walks and hits gave the Mavericks a commanding 9-3 lead.
But the Cougars, true to their season-long resilience, fought back. In the seventh, Gouldin was able to score on a ground ball by Drossel, trimming the deficit to 9-4. The eighth inning saw USF mount a furious rally, sparked by Iliff and Bonner's singles before Edwards' homered along the right field foul pole, bringint the score to 9-7.
In the ninth, USF had one last chance. Drossel singled, but Galic induced back to back groundouts to end the game, dashing the Cougars' hopes of a comeback. Bonner led the offense, going 3-for-4 with a triple, while Edwards (1-for-4, HR, 4 RBI) and Christenson (2-for-4, 1 RBI) contributed key hits. Eli Larson took the loss, allowing four runs over five innings, while Mack Crowley earned the win for Minnesota State, giving up three runs (two earned) over six innings.
