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University of Sioux Falls Athletics

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Scoreboard

Brady Schafer jumps and crosses arms with teammates after home run
Jurgens Photography
7
Bemidji Sate BSU 7-27
18
Winner Sioux Falls USF 19-18
Bemidji Sate BSU
7-27
7
Final
18
Sioux Falls USF
19-18
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Bemidji Sate BSU 0 0 3 0 0 0 4 7 11 2
Sioux Falls USF 0 2 4 1 4 7 X 18 18 1

W: Anderson, Logan (4-3) L: Koch, Joey (0-3)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Clint Neumann

Cougars Explode for 18 Runs in Series-Opening Win Over Bemidji State

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls offense erupted for 18 runs and 18 hits in Saturday's opener against Bemidji State, powering the Cougars to an 18-7 win at Sioux Falls Stadium.

After Bemidji briefly climbed back into the game in the third inning, Sioux Falls answered immediately and never let up, scoring in five of its six offensive frames and posting crooked numbers in the third, fifth and sixth innings. Brady Schafer led the charge with a four-hit day and three RBIs, while the Cougars piled up five home runs, nine extra-base hits and 17 RBIs in one of their most productive offensive performances of the season.

Logan Anderson and Zach Peta combined to cover all seven innings for USF, with Anderson handling the bulk of the work and earning the win. At the plate, nearly every spot in the order contributed as Sioux Falls improved to 19-18 overall. The Cougars finished with 18 hits, nine walks or hit batters, and constant traffic on the bases, turning a 3-2 deficit in the third into a runaway victory by the end of the sixth.

Final Score(s):

  • Game one: Sioux Falls 18, Bemidji State 7

How It Happened

Bemidji threatened right away with a leadoff single and stolen base in the first, but Anderson worked around it to keep the game scoreless. Sioux Falls then stranded a pair in the bottom half before breaking through in the second.

Carson Jager started the inning with a single, Cullen Verville advanced him with a groundout, and Nolan Drossel worked a walk. With two on and two out, Drew Miller ripped a two-run double to left-center to put the Cougars in front 2-0.

Bemidji answered in the third. A walk and a double set the table, and Beau Thoma delivered a two-run single to tie the game. Hunter Hyden followed with a single, and Noah Drusch added an RBI knock to put the Beavers on top 3-2.

The Cougars wasted no time responding. Brady Schafer opened the bottom of the third with a double, and Justin Johnson followed with a two-run homer to center to swing the lead back to USF. Sehr later worked a walk, Jager singled him home, and after Drossel bunted for a hit, an Edwards ground ball plated another run to make it 6-3.

Sioux Falls added on again in the fourth. Johnson singled, Sehr doubled him home, and the Cougars took a 7-3 lead into the fifth.

That fifth inning pushed the game firmly in USF's control. Verville walked to start the frame and Drossel lined a double down the left-field line, driving him home and taking third on an error. Miller followed with an RBI single, Schafer added another RBI single later in the inning, and Sehr lifted a sacrifice fly to cap a four-run frame and stretch the lead to 11-3.

The sixth inning brought the knockout punch.

Verville opened with a solo homer to left. Drossel singled, Edwards walked, and Iliff drove in two with a double down the left-field line. Schafer then blasted a two-run homer to left, pushing the lead to 16-3. Later in the inning, Yeager doubled home Johnson and Verville followed with an RBI single to finish a seven-run outburst and put Sioux Falls in front 18-3.

Bemidji made noise in the seventh, taking advantage of an outfield error and stringing together four runs on four hits, but the Cougars' lead was too large to seriously threaten. Peta recorded the final outs to secure the win.

On the Mound

  • Starting pitcher: Logan Anderson — 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
  • Decision: Anderson (W, 4-3)
  • Bullpen impact: Zach Peta handled the final two innings, allowing five hits and four runs, three earned, while closing out the win.
  • Notable pitching moments: Anderson settled in after Bemidji's three-run third and kept the Beavers quiet over the next two innings, giving the offense room to separate.

At the Plate

  • Multi-hit games: Schafer (4-for-5), Johnson (2-for-3), Jager (2-for-4), Verville (2-for-3), Drossel (3-for-4), Miller (2-for-5)
  • Extra-base hits: Miller (2B), Iliff (2B), Schafer (2B, HR), Sehr (2B), Yeager (2B), Drossel (2B), Johnson (HR), Verville (HR)
  • RBIs: Schafer (3), Johnson (2), Sehr (2), Verville (2), Miller (3), Iliff (2), Jager (1), Yeager (1), Drossel (1)
  • Clutch situations: Miller's two-out, two-run double opened the scoring in the second; Johnson's two-run homer immediately answered Bemidji's go-ahead third inning; and the Cougars buried the game with 11 combined runs in the fifth and sixth.
  • Team totals: 18 hits, 18 runs, 9 free baserunners by walk/HBP, 11 left on base

Coach's Corner

"Was a good team win today. We swung it well, which was good to see. Schafer had a big day at the plate with four knocks. Up and down the lineup, guys were putting together good at-bats. Logan and Zach threw it well. Our defense didn't help them either. We had a few miscues on fly balls with the wind today, and that can't happen. We've played in these conditions plenty of times, and we should know the sticks and be able to stay behind the baseball. Those mistakes cost our pitchers another 30 or so pitches. Hopefully we can minimize the mistakes tomorrow and come out and play better defense and take this series."
– Head Coach Grant Hieb

Up Next

The Cougars continue their weekend home series against Bemidji State on Sunday, April 19 at Sioux Falls Stadium, with the doubleheader scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.

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