Skip To Main Content

University of Sioux Falls Athletics

Scoreboard

Scoreboard

William Edwards takes a lead
0
Winona State WSU 5-9
6
Winner Sioux Falls USF 6-9
Winona State WSU
5-9
0
Final
6
Sioux Falls USF
6-9
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Winona State WSU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1
Sioux Falls USF 2 0 1 0 3 0 X 6 8 0

W: Ammann, Jake (1-2) L: Guenther, Hunter (2-2)

3
Winona State WSU 5-10
8
Winner Sioux Falls USF 7-9
Winona State WSU
5-10
3
Final
8
Sioux Falls USF
7-9
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Winona State WSU 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 5 3
Sioux Falls USF 1 1 0 3 1 0 1 1 X 8 9 0

W: Baur, Brady (3-1) L: Vela, Nathan (0-2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Clint Neumann

USF Rides Strong Starts and Timely Bats to Twinbill Sweep

RALSTON, Neb. – The University of Sioux Falls baseball team opened NSIC play in emphatic fashion Saturday, sweeping Winona State in a doubleheader at Ralston High School with a 6-0 shutout in game one and an 8-3 victory in game two. Behind dominant starts from Jake Ammann and Brady Baur, timely run production, and clean defense in the opener, the Cougars controlled the day from the mound and built momentum heading into Saturday's rematch.

Sioux Falls got exactly the kind of all-around day it had been searching for. The Cougars outscored Winona State 14-3 across the two games, got 15 combined strikeouts from their starting pitchers, and saw Justin Johnson and William Edwards deliver the biggest offensive blows of the day. Ammann tossed a complete-game shutout in the opener, while Baur and the bullpen kept the Warriors in check in game two as USF improved to 7-9 overall.

Final Score(s):

  • Game one: Sioux Falls 6, Winona State 0

  • Game two: Sioux Falls 8, Winona State 3

Game One – How It Happened

Sioux Falls grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first and never looked back. Dominic Vogel was hit by a pitch to open the frame and Mitch Iliff followed with a double to left, immediately putting pressure on the Warriors. William Edwards drove in the game's first run with a groundout to third, and Justin Johnson added an RBI single later in the inning to make it 2-0.

Ammann settled in quickly after working around two first-inning hits, and the Cougars added on in the third. Iliff singled through the left side and eventually came around to score when Johnson lined a single to right, stretching the advantage to 3-0.

The biggest inning came in the fifth. Vogel worked a walk and Iliff singled again to set the table. After a pair of outs, Johnson came through with the loudest swing of the opener, ripping a triple to center that scored both runners. Casey Sehr then reached on a throwing error, allowing Johnson to score and giving USF a commanding 6-0 lead.

That was more than enough for Ammann, who kept Winona State off balance all afternoon. The Warriors threatened a few times, including putting two on in the second and runners aboard in both the fifth and seventh, but Sioux Falls never blinked. Ammann stranded every opportunity and closed out the complete-game shutout in the seventh.

Game One – On the Mound

  • Starting pitcher: Jake Ammann – 7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

  • Decision: Win – Ammann (1-2)

  • Bullpen impact: None needed, as Ammann went the distance

  • Notable pitching moments: Ammann threw a complete-game shutout and induced 14 ground-ball outs, controlling the game from start to finish

Game One – At the Plate

  • Multi-hit games: Mitch Iliff (3-for-4), Justin Johnson (3-for-3)

  • Extra-base hits: Iliff (double), Johnson (triple)

  • RBIs: Johnson (4), Edwards (1)

  • Clutch situations: Johnson delivered RBI singles in the first and third, then broke it open with a two-run triple in the fifth

  • Team totals: 8 hits, 1 walk, 1 hit-by-pitch

Game Two – How It Happened

The Cougars struck first again in game two and used another early lead to control the game. William Edwards reached on a first-inning single and came around to score on a Winona State throwing error, giving USF a 1-0 edge.

Sioux Falls added another run in the second. Drew Miller doubled down the left-field line and later scored when Nolan Drossel singled through the infield, pushing the lead to 2-0.

Winona State got on the board in the third with an RBI single, but the Cougars answered decisively in the bottom of the fourth. After an error and a bunt single helped extend the inning, Edwards launched a three-run homer to left field, turning a one-run game into a 5-1 USF lead.

The Warriors made another push in the sixth. A hit batter and a walk created traffic before a two-run double cut the lead to 6-3, but Eli Larson entered and helped strand the tying run by inducing a key double play.

From there, Sioux Falls regained full control. Casey Sehr added a sacrifice fly in the fifth, then later drove in another run with a single in the seventh. In the eighth, Carson Jager lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home Vogel and close the scoring at 8-3.

Zach Peta slammed the door over the final two innings, striking out three and not allowing a hit to secure the sweep.

Game Two – On the Mound

  • Starting pitcher: Brady Baur – 5.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

  • Decision: Win – Baur (3-1)

  • Bullpen impact: Eli Larson gave USF 1.2 scoreless innings, and Zach Peta closed with 2.0 perfect innings and three strikeouts

  • Notable pitching moments: Peta retired all six hitters he faced to finish the day and preserve the sweep

Game Two – At the Plate

  • Multi-hit games: William Edwards (3-for-5), Drew Miller (2-for-4)

  • Extra-base hits: Edwards (home run), Vogel (double), Miller (double)

  • RBIs: Edwards (3), Casey Sehr (2), Drossel (1), Carson Jager (1)

  • Clutch situations: Edwards' three-run homer in the fourth flipped the game firmly in USF's favor, and Sehr's late RBI single added insurance

  • Team totals: 9 hits, 4 walks, 2 hit-by-pitches

Key Cougars (Day Standouts)

  • Jake Ammann – Tossed a complete-game shutout in game one, allowing six hits over seven innings

  • Justin Johnson – Went 3-for-3 with four RBI in the opener, including the game-breaking two-run triple

  • William Edwards – Powered the game-two offense with three hits and a three-run homer

  • Brady Baur – Delivered another strong start in game two and kept the Cougars in command through the middle innings

  • Zach Peta – Closed the nightcap with two perfect innings and three strikeouts

  • Mitch Iliff – Collected three hits in game one and helped set the tone offensively at the top of both games

Coach's Corner

"It was great to get Jake his first win of the young season. He's been throwing it really well for us and I was glad to see our offense get him some runs early and take some pressure off him. It's a huge advantage in a series when you get a complete game from your starting pitcher…Game 2 was a good team win. We're starting to put together a lot better at-bats and it showed with us hanging runs in all but two of the eight innings we hit. Our bullpen has been throwing it well too and we got some big outs from Eli and Zach to close it out for Brady. Hoping we can keep it going tomorrow and build on these wins."
– Head Coach Grant Hieb

Up Next

The Cougars continue their weekend series against the Winona State Warriors on Saturday, March 14th at Ralston High School in Ralston, Nebraska. Game one is scheduled for 12:00 p.m., with game two to follow later in the afternoon as Sioux Falls looks to complete the series sweep.

Stay Connected

For all things USF Baseball, be sure to download the USF Cougars app as well as follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! Be the first to know what's going on inside USF Athletics by subscribing to our Weekly Newsletter!

Print Friendly Version