Offensive explosion, steady starting pitching propel Huskies to Saturday sweep of Northern State

Saturday, May 1

Aberdeen, SD

1:00 p.m.

St. Cloud State

17-11, 0

Northern State University

15-17, 0

St. Cloud State

Northern State

Offensive explosion, steady starting pitching propel Huskies to Saturday sweep of Northern State

5/1/2021 9:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

St. Cloud State's (18-11, 16-8 NSIC) lineup put up 22 runs while Matt Osterberg and Trevor Koenig threw extremely well in a Saturday sweep of Northern State (15-18, 14-15 NSIC) to take the first two games of the three-game weekend series.

"We have been progressing positively each of the last four or five series," said head coach Pat Dolan, "We're really starting to do the small things well and it's paying off. We again got two great starts from Matt and Trevor and the offense was clicking on all cylinders almost every inning. We have our work cut out tomorrow as I'm sure we'll face their number-one guy Brewer. He's 6-1 but hopefully we can play well and sweep the series."

Game One: Huskies 9, Wolves 4

Matt Osterberg was his typical lights-out self in the first game of the series, going 6.0 innings of four-hit, two walk baseball while allowing just two earned and striking out eight batters. The southpaw earned his third win of the season and has fired a quality start in each of his last three outings.

The Huskies opened the scoring in the first as John Nett (2-for-2, 3 BB, 2 R, RBI, SB) drew his first of three walks and Paul Steffensen (0-for-3, HBP, R, RBI, SF, SB) was hit by a pitch to lead off the game. A strikeout preceded a double steal by the duo, then Jake Shusterich (1-for-3, BB, RBI) singled in Nett and Matt Quade (3-for-4, R, 2 2B, 3 RBI) brough home Steffensen with a fielder's choice.

Northern State tied the game at 2-2 in the third. SCSU struck back quickly, as Quade singled with one out in the ensuing frame and two batters later Tyler Schiller (1-for-2, R, HR, 2 RBI) homered to right. Drew Bulson (0-for-1, 3 BB, 2 R) followed with a walk, Kyle Rodriguez (1-for-2, BB, R) singled and the pair advanced 90 feet each on a wild pitch, allowing Bulson to score on a Nett infield single.

Leading 5-2 entering the fifth, Tate Wallat (1-for-4, R) led off with a single, moved to third on a one-out double off Quade's bat and scored courtesy of a Max Gamm RBI groundout.

Bulson, Rodriguez and Nett eached took a free pass to begin the sixth. Steffensen lofted a sacrifice to left, plating Bulson. A groundout and a walk to Shusterich put Quade back in the box with the bases loaded. The Huskies' rightfielder delivered, smacking a two-run double to left field, giving SCSU their final two tallies.

Game Two: Huskies 13, Wolves 3 (F/7)

Trevor Koenig followed Osterberg's strong start with a stellar outing of his own, going 6.0 innings and surrendering just three earned on six hits and a walk while striking out three.

SCSU opened game two with a bang, as John Nett (3-for-5, 3 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) led off with a double and Paul Steffensen (4-for-5, 4 R, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI) belted his first of two home runs, providing the Huskies with a 2-0 lead.

Northern State struck back with a run in the home half. Tyler Schiller (0-for-3, BB) drew a walk to begin the second but was cut down on an Ean Von Wald (2-for-3, BB, 2 R, 2 2B, RBI) fielder's choice. Kyle Rodriguez (1-for-2, 2 BB, 2 R, RBI) singled to left and advanced to second as Von Wald drew a throw going from first to third. Nett plated the Huskies' catcher with an infield single, then Steffensen singled home Rodriguez. A wild pitch moved both men up before Jake Shusterich (0-for-3, BB) reached on an error that allowed the two to score, making it 6-1 SCSU after one and a half.

The third inning began with a Max Gamm triple followed by a Von Wald RBI double. Rodriguez walked then two batters later Steffensen doubled to right, scoring Von Wald. Tate Wallat (2-for-5, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI) followed by blasting a pitch over the centerfield fence, but it was ruled that he did not touch home plate so the Huskies' third baseman was accredited with a two-run triple.

St. Cloud State tacked on one more run in the fourth as Rodriguez drew a bases-loaded walk. Nett and Steffensen closed out the scoring with back-to-back solo home runs to lead off the seventh.

Adam Winkels finished the run-rule victory with a perfect seventh, striking out one.

Up Next

SCSU and Northern State wrap up their series on Sunday, May 2 with a noon CST first pitch at Fossum Field in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The finale will be broadcast on the NSIC Network with Live Stats provided by Northern State.