Sunday, April 3
Brandon, S.D.
12:00 p.m. CT
St. Cloud State
14-9, 0
8
vs
2
University of Sioux Falls (S.D.)
14-12, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Sioux Falls
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
3
4
St. Cloud State
2
0
1
2
2
1
X
8
11
0
St. Cloud State Baseball Opens Sioux Falls Series with Doubleheader Sweep
4/3/2022 11:20:00 PM | Baseball
R. Ahern throws complete game in first victory, Riola homers three times in sweep
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – St. Cloud State Baseball (15-9, 7-3 NSIC) won both games of their double header Sunday afternoon over the Sioux Falls (14-13, 6-6) by final scores of 8-2 and 8-3. After a site reversal to Brandon, S.D., the Huskies were the home team for the first time in conference play this season. St. Cloud State got another dose of great pitching and timely offense to dominate the Cougars at First National Bank Field.
Game One: Huskies 8, Cougars 2
Both teams were able to plate runs in the first inning, but St. Cloud State was able to take a 2-1 advantage off an RBI single from redshirt sophomore Tate Wallat (1-for-4, R, RBI) and a sacrifice fly from true freshman Ethan Navratil (0-for-3, R, SF, RBI).
The Cougars would then tie the game at two in the top of the third inning but that's the only offense they could muster throughout the contest. Redshirt junior Sam Riola (4-for-4, 3 R, 2B, 2 HR (9)) had another incredible play at the plate but not to be overshadowed by him scoring on a wild pitch to give SCSU a 3-2 lead. The Huskies would follow that up with a two out, two RBI double by redshirt sophomore John Nett (2-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI) and a couple of home runs from Riola in the fifth and sixth innings to cap off an eight-run game.
Redshirt junior Riley Ahern (CG, 3 H, 2 R, BB, 8 K's) gave up a couple of runs in the first three innings of his start, but eventually retired 12 straight Cougars in his second straight complete game performance to pick up his fourth win of the season. The Huskies take game one convincingly, 8-2.
QUOTABLES
Huskies Pitcher Riley Ahern
"We really played some good baseball today. I knew from the get-go that if I could pound the zone our team was going to back me up and they would produce at the plate. Hopefully we can get the sweep tomorrow!"
Game Two: Huskies 8, Cougars 3
Game two featured another similar start with both teams capitalizing on their chances in the first. Senior Paul Steffensen (0-for-3, SF, BB, RBI) tied the game at one with a sacrifice fly scoring Nett (3-for-4, 3 R, 2B, BB, 2 SB). The Cougars would answer with a run for themselves in the top of the third to take 2-1 lead.
St. Cloud State would take control after that, Wallat (2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI) doubled in the bottom of the fourth to grab the lead back for the Huskies. Eventually senior Max Gamm (1-for-4, 2 R, SB, RBI) plated a run with a sacrifice bunt to push the lead to two.
Senior Nick Brauns (1.2 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K's) and true freshman Ethan Lanthier (3.1 IP, H, R, 4 BB, 8 K's) were electric out of the bullpen through the middle innings to stave the Cougars. The Huskies would provide insurance via the long ball, sophomore Tyler Schiller (2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, Solo HR (3)) and Riola (2-for-4, R, 3-Run HR (10)) both went deep to give the Huskies a six-run lead.
USF was able to scratch across one run in the top of the ninth, but it was not enough to force the game to extras and SCSU finished off the double header sweep with an 8-3 victory over Sioux Falls.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Baseball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Game One: Huskies 8, Cougars 2
Both teams were able to plate runs in the first inning, but St. Cloud State was able to take a 2-1 advantage off an RBI single from redshirt sophomore Tate Wallat (1-for-4, R, RBI) and a sacrifice fly from true freshman Ethan Navratil (0-for-3, R, SF, RBI).
The Cougars would then tie the game at two in the top of the third inning but that's the only offense they could muster throughout the contest. Redshirt junior Sam Riola (4-for-4, 3 R, 2B, 2 HR (9)) had another incredible play at the plate but not to be overshadowed by him scoring on a wild pitch to give SCSU a 3-2 lead. The Huskies would follow that up with a two out, two RBI double by redshirt sophomore John Nett (2-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI) and a couple of home runs from Riola in the fifth and sixth innings to cap off an eight-run game.
Redshirt junior Riley Ahern (CG, 3 H, 2 R, BB, 8 K's) gave up a couple of runs in the first three innings of his start, but eventually retired 12 straight Cougars in his second straight complete game performance to pick up his fourth win of the season. The Huskies take game one convincingly, 8-2.
QUOTABLES
Huskies Pitcher Riley Ahern
"We really played some good baseball today. I knew from the get-go that if I could pound the zone our team was going to back me up and they would produce at the plate. Hopefully we can get the sweep tomorrow!"
Game Two: Huskies 8, Cougars 3
Game two featured another similar start with both teams capitalizing on their chances in the first. Senior Paul Steffensen (0-for-3, SF, BB, RBI) tied the game at one with a sacrifice fly scoring Nett (3-for-4, 3 R, 2B, BB, 2 SB). The Cougars would answer with a run for themselves in the top of the third to take 2-1 lead.
St. Cloud State would take control after that, Wallat (2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI) doubled in the bottom of the fourth to grab the lead back for the Huskies. Eventually senior Max Gamm (1-for-4, 2 R, SB, RBI) plated a run with a sacrifice bunt to push the lead to two.
Senior Nick Brauns (1.2 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K's) and true freshman Ethan Lanthier (3.1 IP, H, R, 4 BB, 8 K's) were electric out of the bullpen through the middle innings to stave the Cougars. The Huskies would provide insurance via the long ball, sophomore Tyler Schiller (2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, Solo HR (3)) and Riola (2-for-4, R, 3-Run HR (10)) both went deep to give the Huskies a six-run lead.
USF was able to scratch across one run in the top of the ninth, but it was not enough to force the game to extras and SCSU finished off the double header sweep with an 8-3 victory over Sioux Falls.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Baseball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lanthier, Ethan (1-0)
L: Graham,Matt (1-4)
Batting:
RBI: Serie, Ben 1 ; Hubers, Trey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: King, Connor 2 ; Cate, Tyler 1
SB: King, Connor 1 ; Cate, Tyler 1
CS: Klehr, Brady 1
Batting:
2B: Nett, John 1 ; Wallat, Tate 1 ; Schiller, Tyler 1
HR: Riola, Sam 1 ; Schiller, Tyler 1
RBI: Wallat, Tate 2 ; Riola, Sam 3 ; Steffensen, Paul 1 ; Schiller, Tyler 1 ; Gamm, Max 1
SF: Steffensen, Paul 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nett, John 3 ; Riola, Sam 1 ; Schiller, Tyler 2 ; Gamm, Max 2
SB: Nett, John 2 ; Riola, Sam 1 ; Gamm, Max 3
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
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RHP
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RHP
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OF
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OF
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INF
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