SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (USF) – The University of Sioux Falls settled for a split in Sunday’s home finale against Bemidji State, using a seven-run fourth inning to rally for an 8-4 win in game one before falling 8-6 in game two at Sioux Falls Stadium.
The day had two very different scripts. In the opener, Sioux Falls shook off an early 3-0 deficit with a huge middle-inning surge and got a complete-game effort from Brady Baur to secure the win. In the second game, the Cougars again found themselves playing from behind, nearly erased a six-run deficit with a four-run eighth, but could not complete the comeback. Brady Schafer starred across both games, delivering the go-ahead three-run homer in game one and driving in two more late in the nightcap, while Carson Jager and Cullen Verville were key table-setters in game two. The split moved Sioux Falls to 20-19 overall.
Bemidji did enough offensively to steal the second contest, but the Cougars’ bats were the difference in game one. USF piled up 14 runs on 22 hits across the day, including seven extra-base hits, though defensive miscues and baserunning mistakes kept the day from turning into a sweep. Even so, Sioux Falls found a way to salvage the split and close the weekend with a win in front of the home crowd.
Bemidji State struck first on Jack Feldman’s leadoff homer in the top of the first, then added two more in the third when Hunter Hyden launched a two-run shot to right-center for a 3-0 lead.
The Cougars flipped the game in the bottom of the fourth.
After Justin Johnson was hit by a pitch and Casey Sehr singled, Verville was plunked to load the bases. Nolan Drossel brought home the first two runs with a single through the right side, and after William Edwards followed with a single, Drew Miller ripped a two-run double to left-center to put USF on top 4-3. Two batters later, Schafer crushed a three-run homer to right, capping a seven-run inning and turning a three-run hole into a 7-3 advantage.
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.
Starting pitcher: Brady Baur — 7.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 9 K
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.
Multi-hit games: Edwards (2), Miller (2), Schafer (2)
Extra-base hits: Edwards (2B), Miller (2B), Schafer (HR)
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
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.
Starting pitcher: Jake Pruchniak — 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
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.