SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Sioux Falls Baseball saw its 2026 season come to a close on Thursday at Ronken Field, dropping a pair of tightly contested games in the NSIC Tournament to No. 1 seed Augustana and UMary. Despite showing resilience throughout both contests, early deficits and late-game swings ultimately proved to be the difference.
The Cougars fell 9-4 to Augustana in the afternoon matchup before battling back-and-forth with UMary in the evening, ultimately coming up just short in a 7-6 loss. Sioux Falls totaled 10 runs on 15 hits across the two games, but defensive miscues and key late innings by their opponents shifted momentum at critical moments.
Mitch Iliff led the offensive effort on the day, combining for four hits and four RBIs, while
Owen Weadge delivered a strong start in game two to keep USF in position.
Final Scores:
Game One: Augustana 9, Sioux Falls 4
Game Two: UMary 7, Sioux Falls 6
Game One – How It Happened
Augustana struck quickly in the opening inning, putting up five runs on four hits and setting the tone early. Sioux Falls battled to settle in after the first, but the initial surge proved difficult to overcome.
The Cougars chipped away in the fourth when
William Edwards delivered an RBI single to bring home
Nolan Drossel, cutting the deficit to four. Augustana responded with solo home runs in the fourth and fifth innings to extend its lead to 8-1.
Sioux Falls made its push in the seventh inning, sparked by
Dominic Vogel's solo home run to left-center. The Cougars capitalized on defensive miscues to plate two more runs, trimming the lead to 8-4 and bringing energy back to the dugout. However, Augustana answered with an insurance run in the eighth and closed the door late to secure the win.
Game One – On the Mound
Starting pitcher:
Logan Anderson (4.0 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 BB, 4 K)
Decision: Loss (5-4)
Bullpen impact: Morrissette provided a clean inning with two strikeouts; Schilling worked 2.2 innings allowing one run; Ahrenstorff recorded the final out
Notable pitching moments: Bullpen steadied the game after the first inning, holding Augustana to one run over the final four frames
Game One – At the Plate
Multi-hit games: Iliff (2), Edwards (2)
Extra-base hits: Vogel (HR)
RBIs: Vogel (1), Edwards (1), Verville (1)
Clutch situations: Three-run seventh inning fueled by Vogel's homer and pressure on Augustana's defense
Team totals: 7 hits, 4 runs, 5 walks, 2 HBP, 11 left on base
Game Two – How It Happened
Sioux Falls came out aggressive in the nightcap, building a 6-0 lead through five innings with consistent offensive pressure. Iliff drove in a pair early, and the Cougars capitalized on situational hitting and execution to take control.
After plating runs in each of the first three innings, USF extended its lead in the fifth behind another RBI opportunity created through disciplined at-bats. Starting pitcher
Owen Weadge kept UMary off balance through five innings, allowing the Cougars to maintain command.
Momentum shifted in the sixth as UMary broke through with three runs, aided by timely hitting and a defensive miscue. The Marauders added another run in the seventh before delivering the decisive blow in the eighth, scoring three runs—two unearned—to take a 7-6 lead.
Sioux Falls had opportunities late, putting runners on in the final innings, but UMary's bullpen held firm to close out the game and end the Cougars' season.
Game Two – On the Mound
Starting pitcher:
Owen Weadge (6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K)
Decision: Loss to
Zach Peta (2-2)
Bullpen impact: Maeyaert added a scoreless inning; Peta allowed three runs in the eighth; Sehr closed the inning
Notable pitching moments: Weadge controlled the game early, holding UMary scoreless through five innings
Game Two – At the Plate
Multi-hit games: Vogel (2), Iliff (2)
Extra-base hits: Edwards (3B)
RBIs: Iliff (2), Sehr (2), Johnson (1)
Clutch situations: Five-run third inning gave USF early control
Team totals: 8 hits, 6 runs, 4 walks, 8 left on base
Key Cougars (Day Leaders)
Mitch Iliff – 4 hits, 4 RBIs across two games
Dominic Vogel – HR, multiple hits, run production
William Edwards – multi-hit game and key RBIs
Owen Weadge – strong six-inning start in game two
Casey Sehr – key RBIs and defensive presence
Coach's Corner
"Tough ones today. Anderson had a rough start in the first game but was able to settle in after that five-run first inning. I was happy to see our bullpen keep us in the game, but spotting a team like Augustana that many runs is a tough hole to climb out of.
Weadge threw really well for us in the second game against Mary. We were able to build a five-run lead, but their bullpen did a good job of slowing us down in the middle and late innings and gave them a chance to come back. We had opportunities but couldn't make a few plays on defense that we usually make, and that opened the door for them.
Despite the losses, I'm proud of how our guys competed. They gave everything they had and we just came up a few plays short. Our seniors should be proud of what they accomplished during their time here—they showed up every day and helped move this program forward. I hope our younger guys take that to heart and come back hungry next fall ready to make another run at a conference title."
– Head Coach
Grant Hieb
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