Sioux Falls rallies for game one win, settles for split

From there, Baur and the Sioux Falls defense settled in. Bemidji scratched across a run in the sixth, but the Cougars answered immediately when Miller’s bunt single led to an insurance run on a throwing error. Baur closed it out from there, limiting further damage and finishing all seven innings.

Game One – On the Mound

• Starting pitcher: Brady Baur — 7.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 9 K
• Decision: Baur (W, 5-2)
• Bullpen impact: None needed as Baur tossed the complete game.
• Notable pitching moments: Worked around traffic in the fourth and fifth, then held Bemidji to one run over the final four innings while striking out nine.

Game One – At the Plate

• Multi-hit games: Edwards (2), Miller (2), Schafer (2)
• Extra-base hits: Edwards (2B), Miller (2B), Schafer (HR)
• RBIs: Schafer (3), Drossel (2), Miller (2)
• Clutch situations: USF scored seven runs in the fourth, with Drossel, Miller and Schafer all delivering key run-producing swings.
• Team totals: 9 hits, 8 runs, 2 walks, 2 hit by pitch, 5 left on base

Game Two – How It Happened

The second game was tighter early, but Bemidji capitalized on Sioux Falls mistakes to grab control.

The Beavers scored twice in the third, taking advantage of an error and two sacrifice flies. USF finally answered in the fifth when Edwards stole home after an Iliff single and stolen base sequence, trimming the deficit to 2-1. Bemidji added single runs in the sixth and seventh to build a 4-1 lead, while the Cougars left chances on base in the middle innings.

The decisive blow came in the eighth. Bemidji opened the inning with back-to-back singles and then got a two-run double from Cooper Anderson. Feldman later added an RBI single, and Beau Thoma’s sacrifice fly pushed the lead to 8-2.

Sioux Falls responded with its best punch in the bottom of the eighth. Jager doubled to start the inning, Verville singled, and Drossel forced in another run with a productive at-bat, Miller tripled to make it 8-4. Iliff then worked a walk, and Schafer followed with a two-run double to left-center to bring the Cougars within 8-6 and put the tying run at the plate. But Bemidji escaped without further damage, and Sioux Falls went down in order in the ninth.

Game Two – On the Mound

• Starting pitcher: Jake Pruchniak — 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• Decision: Pruchniak (L, 0-2)
• Bullpen impact: Tyler Maeyaert gave USF 2.0 scoreless innings after inheriting trouble in the fourth. Taylor Morrissette, Jack Richeson and Eli Larson combined to finish the game.
• Notable pitching moments: Maeyaert stranded runners at second and third in the fourth to keep the game within reach, but Bemidji broke it open with four runs in the eighth.

Game Two – At the Plate

• Multi-hit games: Iliff (2), Johnson (2), Jager (3), Verville (2)
• Extra-base hits: Schafer (2B), Johnson (2B), Jager (2B), Miller (3B)
• RBIs: Schafer (2), Johnson (1), Miller (1), Drossel (1)
• Clutch situations: Schafer’s two-run double in the eighth highlighted a four-run rally that nearly erased the deficit.
• Team totals: 13 hits, 6 runs, 4 walks, 2 hit by pitch, 11 left on base

Key Cougars (Day Standouts)

• Brady Schafer: 4-for-8, 5 RBI, home run, double, go-ahead swing in game one
• Drew Miller: 3-for-9, 3 RBI, double, triple, scored twice
• Cullen Verville: Reached base consistently and scored key runs, including an RBI in game two
• Carson Jager: Sparked game two rally with three hits and a double
• Brady Baur: Complete-game win with nine strikeouts in the opener
• Justin Johnson: Combined for four hits on the day, including a homer in game one and RBI double in game two

Coach’s Corner

“We were lucky to get a split today. We didn’t play either game well. Bats saved us the first game with a 7-spot late. Schafer had a big home run that helped us pull it out. Second game we had too many mistakes on the bases, didn’t pitch it very well, & didn’t play our best defense. It’s been our problem all season, playing consistent ball game in & game out. We’re too much like a roller coaster right now, one game we play well, the next one we don’t. It’s why we’re a game over .500 right now. We have to find a way to be more consistent every game these last couple of weeks of the regular season so we’re playing at a higher level going into the conference tournament.”
– Head Coach Grant Hieb

Up Next

The Cougars will hit the road for a midweek NSIC doubleheader against St. Cloud State on Wednesday, April 22, with game one scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Joe Faber Field.

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