Thursday, May 13
St. Cloud, MN
6:00 p.m.
St. Cloud State
vs
University of Mary
Photo by: Kylie Macziewski
Huskies duel Marauders in NSIC Championships Opening Round
5/12/2021 3:10:00 PM | Baseball
No. 3-seeded St. Cloud State Baseball (20-12, 18-9 NSIC) begins the NSIC Championships Opening Round this Thursday with a best-of-three series against six-seeded University of Mary (21-18, 18-14 NSIC). The opening game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CST Thursday with game two and the if-necessary finale set for Friday at 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. CST. Joe Faber Field plays host to the series' first two games, and if a third game is needed it will be held at the Cold Spring Baseball Park in Cold Spring, Minnesota.
St. Cloud State and U-Mary met once in the regular season, a midweek in Bismarck that became the Huskies' regular season finale following the cancelation of their weekend with Southwest Minnesota State. The Huskies erased a 4-3 deficit in the seventh inning of game one, producing a four-run frame on the way to a 7-4 win before falling in the 10th inning of game two on a walk-off home run. All-time, SCSU owns a 23-1 record against the University of Mary.
Scouting the Huskies
St. Cloud State boasts one of the most productive lineups in the NSIC, leading the conference in batting average and on-base percentage with marks of .321 and .418 thanks in no small part to an order that features six qualifiers hitting .300 or better.Â
Centerfielder John Nett leads the NSIC in OBP by nearly 40 points and has started every game in the leadoff spot, slashing .394/.541/.615 with 43 runs scored, eight doubles, two triples, four home runs, 27 RBI, 15 stolen bases and a Huskies-high .513 wOBA and 188 OPS+. Shortstop Max Gamm (.331/.407/.435, 27 R, 4 2B, 3 3B, HR, 16 RBI) follows Nett in the order, leading SCSU with 17 steals on 19 tries. Leftfielder Paul Steffensen (.322/.375/.568, 32 R, 7 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 16-16 SB) begins the heart of the order in the three-hole, followed by first baseman Jake Shusterich. The Huskies' one-bagger is tied with Nett for the team wOBA lead at .513 and is second in the NSIC in OBP while slashing .385/.504/.648 with 12 doubles, four home runs and 29 RBI. Anchoring the middle-of-the-order, rightfielder Matt Quade (.366/.428/.598, 9 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 34 RBI), third baseman Tate Wallat (.257/.352/.429, 26 R, 5 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 18 RBI) and designated hitter Tyler Schiller (.323/.417/.516, 14 R, 3 2B, 3 HR) have settled in as steady contributors. Drew Bulson boasts an .822 OPS behind the plate, while second baseman Kyle Rodriguez is hitting .333 with five runs scored and five RBI over his last seven games to round out the lineup.
The Huskies feature one of the most fearsome weekend rotations in the conference, with southpaws Matt Osterberg, Trevor Koenig and Jack Habeck anchoring the anticipated postseason trio. All three rank top-six in the NSIC in batting average against, with Osterberg leading the conference with an overpowering .183 mark. Osterberg has gone 3-2 over seven starts with a 2.97 ERA and a 2.64 FIP across 39.1 innings, owning a 52:16 (30.8%:9.5%) K:BB ratio and a .543 OPS against. Koenig is 3-3 across eight appearances and six starts, tossing a team-high 45.0 frames to the tune of a 2.60 ERA and a 2.26 FIP with a 45:11 K:BB ratio. The tall lefthander works at a team-low .523 OPS against. Habeck rounds out the rotation having transitioned to the weekend near the end of the regular season, owning a SCSU-best 6-1 record across 10 appearances with a 2.48 ERA and a 2.96 FIP over 36.1 innings. The second-year freshman has limited foes to a .185 average and a .534 OPS.
SCSU's postseason bullpen will be anchored by Mack Larson (11 APP, 2 SV, 29.1 IP, 18:9 K:BB), Tommy Thompson (3-0, 9 APP, 4.08 FIP, 33.2 IP, 33:12 K:BB), Eli Emerson (9 APP, 10.1 IP, 4.35 ERA, 11:6 K:BB), Nick Brauns (1-1, 7 APP, 4.96 FIP, 9.2 IP, 13:5 K:BB) and Fabian Villegas (1-1, 6 APP, 22.0 IP, 18:8 K:BB).
Scouting the Marauders
U-Mary will be making their first-ever NSIC Championships appearance, placing a program-best sixth in the regular season standings. The Marauders are fresh off a weekend sweep of Northern State, closing the season with a Quentin Evers walk-off home run in the finale.
Mary's lineup features some impressive power with two-way first baseman Derek Shoen (.331/.403/.654, 10 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 30 RBI), third baseman Calvin James (.359/.446/.655, 13 2B, 3B, 9 HR, 33 RBI) and two-way DH Ty Jones (.287/.381/.600, 5 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 26 RBI) occupying the two-three-four spots in the order all boasting OPS marks above or near 1.000. Catcher Tyrus Barclay (.313/.366/.482, 8 2B, 3B, 3 HR) sets the table in the leadoff spot, while Evers (18 GP, .357/.472/.810, 2B, 6 HR, 14 RBI) has been a revelation as of late.
The Huskies are sure to see some combination of lefthander Austin Wagner (3-0, 7 GS, 2.10 ERA, 34.1 IP, 41:7 K:BB, .155 BAA) and righties Jonathan Draheim (6-1, 8 GS, 3.78 ERA, 4 CG, 50.0 IP, 38:6 K:BB, .258 BAA), Jones (1-2, 7 GS, 4.03 ERA, 29.0 IP, 34:20 K:BB, .265 BAA) and Daniel Turner (2-2, 9 APP/4 GS, 5.40 ERA, 33.1 IP, 26:14 K:BB, .250 BAA) on the mound for U-Mary. Wagner struck out 11 and walked none over 7.0 frames of three-hit, one-run baseball in his final start of the season against Northern State, while Draheim went 6.0 innings against SCSU and worked a quality start, allowing three earned on seven hits and a pair of walks while striking out eight batters in game one.
Mary's bullpen features a slew of power arms, anchored by righty Andrew Brooks (3-1, 17 APP, 1.64 ERA, 22.0 IP, .130 BAA, 34:13 K:BB), righthander Brandon Gill (7 APP, 9.2 IP, 3.72 ERA, .212 BAA, 10:5 K:BB), LOOGY Jayden Smith (18 APP, 9.10 ERA, 13.2 IP, .278 BAA, 13:10 K:BB) and righty closer Paxton Miller (14 APP, 5 SV, 6.00 ERA, 12.0 IP, .308 BAA, 19:12 K:BB).
Broadcast Information
The series will be broadcast on 97.5 FM RadioX and the NSIC Network with Live Stats provided by SCSU.
St. Cloud State and U-Mary met once in the regular season, a midweek in Bismarck that became the Huskies' regular season finale following the cancelation of their weekend with Southwest Minnesota State. The Huskies erased a 4-3 deficit in the seventh inning of game one, producing a four-run frame on the way to a 7-4 win before falling in the 10th inning of game two on a walk-off home run. All-time, SCSU owns a 23-1 record against the University of Mary.
Scouting the Huskies
St. Cloud State boasts one of the most productive lineups in the NSIC, leading the conference in batting average and on-base percentage with marks of .321 and .418 thanks in no small part to an order that features six qualifiers hitting .300 or better.Â
Centerfielder John Nett leads the NSIC in OBP by nearly 40 points and has started every game in the leadoff spot, slashing .394/.541/.615 with 43 runs scored, eight doubles, two triples, four home runs, 27 RBI, 15 stolen bases and a Huskies-high .513 wOBA and 188 OPS+. Shortstop Max Gamm (.331/.407/.435, 27 R, 4 2B, 3 3B, HR, 16 RBI) follows Nett in the order, leading SCSU with 17 steals on 19 tries. Leftfielder Paul Steffensen (.322/.375/.568, 32 R, 7 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 16-16 SB) begins the heart of the order in the three-hole, followed by first baseman Jake Shusterich. The Huskies' one-bagger is tied with Nett for the team wOBA lead at .513 and is second in the NSIC in OBP while slashing .385/.504/.648 with 12 doubles, four home runs and 29 RBI. Anchoring the middle-of-the-order, rightfielder Matt Quade (.366/.428/.598, 9 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 34 RBI), third baseman Tate Wallat (.257/.352/.429, 26 R, 5 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 18 RBI) and designated hitter Tyler Schiller (.323/.417/.516, 14 R, 3 2B, 3 HR) have settled in as steady contributors. Drew Bulson boasts an .822 OPS behind the plate, while second baseman Kyle Rodriguez is hitting .333 with five runs scored and five RBI over his last seven games to round out the lineup.
The Huskies feature one of the most fearsome weekend rotations in the conference, with southpaws Matt Osterberg, Trevor Koenig and Jack Habeck anchoring the anticipated postseason trio. All three rank top-six in the NSIC in batting average against, with Osterberg leading the conference with an overpowering .183 mark. Osterberg has gone 3-2 over seven starts with a 2.97 ERA and a 2.64 FIP across 39.1 innings, owning a 52:16 (30.8%:9.5%) K:BB ratio and a .543 OPS against. Koenig is 3-3 across eight appearances and six starts, tossing a team-high 45.0 frames to the tune of a 2.60 ERA and a 2.26 FIP with a 45:11 K:BB ratio. The tall lefthander works at a team-low .523 OPS against. Habeck rounds out the rotation having transitioned to the weekend near the end of the regular season, owning a SCSU-best 6-1 record across 10 appearances with a 2.48 ERA and a 2.96 FIP over 36.1 innings. The second-year freshman has limited foes to a .185 average and a .534 OPS.
SCSU's postseason bullpen will be anchored by Mack Larson (11 APP, 2 SV, 29.1 IP, 18:9 K:BB), Tommy Thompson (3-0, 9 APP, 4.08 FIP, 33.2 IP, 33:12 K:BB), Eli Emerson (9 APP, 10.1 IP, 4.35 ERA, 11:6 K:BB), Nick Brauns (1-1, 7 APP, 4.96 FIP, 9.2 IP, 13:5 K:BB) and Fabian Villegas (1-1, 6 APP, 22.0 IP, 18:8 K:BB).
Scouting the Marauders
U-Mary will be making their first-ever NSIC Championships appearance, placing a program-best sixth in the regular season standings. The Marauders are fresh off a weekend sweep of Northern State, closing the season with a Quentin Evers walk-off home run in the finale.
Mary's lineup features some impressive power with two-way first baseman Derek Shoen (.331/.403/.654, 10 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 30 RBI), third baseman Calvin James (.359/.446/.655, 13 2B, 3B, 9 HR, 33 RBI) and two-way DH Ty Jones (.287/.381/.600, 5 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 26 RBI) occupying the two-three-four spots in the order all boasting OPS marks above or near 1.000. Catcher Tyrus Barclay (.313/.366/.482, 8 2B, 3B, 3 HR) sets the table in the leadoff spot, while Evers (18 GP, .357/.472/.810, 2B, 6 HR, 14 RBI) has been a revelation as of late.
The Huskies are sure to see some combination of lefthander Austin Wagner (3-0, 7 GS, 2.10 ERA, 34.1 IP, 41:7 K:BB, .155 BAA) and righties Jonathan Draheim (6-1, 8 GS, 3.78 ERA, 4 CG, 50.0 IP, 38:6 K:BB, .258 BAA), Jones (1-2, 7 GS, 4.03 ERA, 29.0 IP, 34:20 K:BB, .265 BAA) and Daniel Turner (2-2, 9 APP/4 GS, 5.40 ERA, 33.1 IP, 26:14 K:BB, .250 BAA) on the mound for U-Mary. Wagner struck out 11 and walked none over 7.0 frames of three-hit, one-run baseball in his final start of the season against Northern State, while Draheim went 6.0 innings against SCSU and worked a quality start, allowing three earned on seven hits and a pair of walks while striking out eight batters in game one.
Mary's bullpen features a slew of power arms, anchored by righty Andrew Brooks (3-1, 17 APP, 1.64 ERA, 22.0 IP, .130 BAA, 34:13 K:BB), righthander Brandon Gill (7 APP, 9.2 IP, 3.72 ERA, .212 BAA, 10:5 K:BB), LOOGY Jayden Smith (18 APP, 9.10 ERA, 13.2 IP, .278 BAA, 13:10 K:BB) and righty closer Paxton Miller (14 APP, 5 SV, 6.00 ERA, 12.0 IP, .308 BAA, 19:12 K:BB).
Broadcast Information
The series will be broadcast on 97.5 FM RadioX and the NSIC Network with Live Stats provided by SCSU.
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