St. Cloud State Baseball Cleans Up in NSIC Year-end Awards
5/10/2022 4:04:00 PM | Baseball
Riola named Player and Newcomer of the Year, Tupy named Freshman of the Year
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Ahead of this week's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Baseball Tournament, St. Cloud State Baseball was well represented in the year-end conference awards, as the league office announced its All-NSIC awards on Tuesday. Redshirt junior Sam Riola (Ham Lake, Minn.) and redshirt freshman Luke Tupy (New Prague, Minn.) were the headliners for the Huskies, as Riola was named the Player and Newcomer of the Year, while Tupy was named the Freshman of the Year.
The Huskies had four named to the All-NSIC First team, as Riola (2B) and Tupy (LHP) were joined by redshirt sophomore John Nett (Appleton, Wis.) and freshman Ethan Lanthier (Northfield, Minn.) at outfield and relief pitcher, respectively. Redshirt sophomore Tate Wallat (Federal Way, Wash.) was named to the All-NSIC Second Team at third base and the All-Defensive Team, while freshman Ethan Navratil (Albany, Minn.) was named to the All-Defensive Team.
St. Cloud State's four first team selections are its most since 2015 when it had five, and its six all-conference honorees are its most since 2019 when it had two first team and four second team selections.
Riola has been nothing short of outstanding in his first season with St. Cloud State, as he is currently hitting .426 with 17 home runs, 56 RBI, 60 R and 30 SB. He is the third Husky to be named NSIC Player of the Year, following Jordan Smith (2011, 3B) and Michael Jurgella (2015, C), and the first to be named Newcomer of the Year. The Ham Lake., Minn., native leads the conference in nearly every offensive category, including batting average (.426), slugging percentage (.828), on base percentage (.535), on base + slugging percentage (1.363), runs scored (60) and home runs (17). He also ranks second in triples (five), walks (34) and stolen bases (30), and third in hits (72) and RBI (56).
Riola's single-season power output and speed on the bases is nearing the best in program history, as his 17 home runs rank only second to only Reese Gregory's 21 in 2016, while his 30 stolen bases are just one behind Phil Imholte's 31 in 2012.
Tupy is the fourth Husky to be named NSIC Freshman of the Year, following Jordan Smith (2010, 3B), Sheldon Miks (2015, P) and Judd Davis (2016, SS), and the fifth Huksy freshman to earn NSIC first team honors, joining Jordan Smith (2010, OF), Reese Gregory (2013, Relief), Sheldon Miks (216, LHP) and John Nett (2021, OF). The First Team selection has posted a 6-0 mark in eight starts with a 1.43 ERA, 74 strikeouts, .156 opposing batting average in 44.0 innings pitched. Among conference leaders, Tupy's 74 strikeouts rank seventh, while his six wins ranks seventh. Tupy's freshman campaign was highlights by back-to-back no hitters against Northern State (April 21) and Minnesota Crookston (April 29). He earned NSIC and NCBWA National Pitcher of the Year honors after spinning the 28th perfect game in NCAA Division-II history against Northern State. His 15 strikeouts against the Wolves were the second-most in program history, trailing only Matt Jensen's 17 against Minnesota State Moorhead in 1970. He threw his second consecutive no-hitter on April 29 against the Golden Eagles, striking out 13 batters while allowing just one walk in a 10-0 victory.
Tupy's pair of no-hitters were two of three in a span of eight days for the Huskies, as senior Trevor Koenig (St. Cloud, Minn.) threw a no-hitter against Minnesota Duluth on April 27, and the sixth and eighth no-hitters under head coach Pat Dolan and eighth since 1995.
Nett was named to the NSIC First team for the second straight season, becoming the first to earn back-to-back first team honors since Mitch Mallek (2018-19, OF). After a slow start, Nett has come on strong in conference play, putting together a season line of .370/.330/.573 with four home runs, 17 doubles, 35 RBI and 15 stolen bases. Among conference leaders, Nett ranks second in runs scored (55) and triples (five), fourth in hits (71), fifth in doubles (17), and eighth in batting average (.370) and stolen bases (15). In conference games only, Nett leads the league in batting average (.432) and hits (57) while ranking second in rush scored (45). In 47 games played, the Husky leadoff hitter has 22 multi-hit games and has scored a run in 33 contests, including 16 straight between April 3-24.
Lanthier is the fifth Husky freshman to earn NSIC first team honors and the first since 2013 to earn the nod as a relief pitcher, joining Reese Gregory in 2013. The Northfield, Minn., native has been superb out of the bullpen for the Huskies, earning a 5-0 mark with one save and 2.43 ERA in 15 appearances (two starts). In 33.1 innings pitched, Lanthier has struck out 48 batters, fourth-best on the team compared to only 17 walks. His 16 hits allowed are the lowest of anyone on the team who has recorded 20.0 innings pitched.
Wallat was named to the second team to earn the first all-conference honor of his career, as he has been a driving force at the top of the Husky lineup all season. The two-hole hitter is hitting .371 with 10 doubles, two home runs, 28 RBI and 48 runs scored, all career-highs and significant increases from his freshman campaign. Among conference leaders, he ranks third in on base percentage (.488), fourth in walks (32), sixth in hits (48) and seventh in runs scored (48) and batting average (.371).
Wallat and Navratil earned golden gloves for their spectacular work in the field at third base and first base, respectively. The duo marks the first time the Huskies have had two players on the All-Defensive Team since 2015 when Michael Jurgella (C) and Eric Loxtercamp (OF) earned the nod. Wallat produced a .991 fielding percentage at the hot corner with just one error, 36 put-outs and 70 asissts, while Navratil had a .996 fielding percentage with one error, 252 put-outs and 11 assists.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Baseball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The Huskies had four named to the All-NSIC First team, as Riola (2B) and Tupy (LHP) were joined by redshirt sophomore John Nett (Appleton, Wis.) and freshman Ethan Lanthier (Northfield, Minn.) at outfield and relief pitcher, respectively. Redshirt sophomore Tate Wallat (Federal Way, Wash.) was named to the All-NSIC Second Team at third base and the All-Defensive Team, while freshman Ethan Navratil (Albany, Minn.) was named to the All-Defensive Team.
St. Cloud State's four first team selections are its most since 2015 when it had five, and its six all-conference honorees are its most since 2019 when it had two first team and four second team selections.
Riola has been nothing short of outstanding in his first season with St. Cloud State, as he is currently hitting .426 with 17 home runs, 56 RBI, 60 R and 30 SB. He is the third Husky to be named NSIC Player of the Year, following Jordan Smith (2011, 3B) and Michael Jurgella (2015, C), and the first to be named Newcomer of the Year. The Ham Lake., Minn., native leads the conference in nearly every offensive category, including batting average (.426), slugging percentage (.828), on base percentage (.535), on base + slugging percentage (1.363), runs scored (60) and home runs (17). He also ranks second in triples (five), walks (34) and stolen bases (30), and third in hits (72) and RBI (56).
Riola's single-season power output and speed on the bases is nearing the best in program history, as his 17 home runs rank only second to only Reese Gregory's 21 in 2016, while his 30 stolen bases are just one behind Phil Imholte's 31 in 2012.
Tupy is the fourth Husky to be named NSIC Freshman of the Year, following Jordan Smith (2010, 3B), Sheldon Miks (2015, P) and Judd Davis (2016, SS), and the fifth Huksy freshman to earn NSIC first team honors, joining Jordan Smith (2010, OF), Reese Gregory (2013, Relief), Sheldon Miks (216, LHP) and John Nett (2021, OF). The First Team selection has posted a 6-0 mark in eight starts with a 1.43 ERA, 74 strikeouts, .156 opposing batting average in 44.0 innings pitched. Among conference leaders, Tupy's 74 strikeouts rank seventh, while his six wins ranks seventh. Tupy's freshman campaign was highlights by back-to-back no hitters against Northern State (April 21) and Minnesota Crookston (April 29). He earned NSIC and NCBWA National Pitcher of the Year honors after spinning the 28th perfect game in NCAA Division-II history against Northern State. His 15 strikeouts against the Wolves were the second-most in program history, trailing only Matt Jensen's 17 against Minnesota State Moorhead in 1970. He threw his second consecutive no-hitter on April 29 against the Golden Eagles, striking out 13 batters while allowing just one walk in a 10-0 victory.
Tupy's pair of no-hitters were two of three in a span of eight days for the Huskies, as senior Trevor Koenig (St. Cloud, Minn.) threw a no-hitter against Minnesota Duluth on April 27, and the sixth and eighth no-hitters under head coach Pat Dolan and eighth since 1995.
Nett was named to the NSIC First team for the second straight season, becoming the first to earn back-to-back first team honors since Mitch Mallek (2018-19, OF). After a slow start, Nett has come on strong in conference play, putting together a season line of .370/.330/.573 with four home runs, 17 doubles, 35 RBI and 15 stolen bases. Among conference leaders, Nett ranks second in runs scored (55) and triples (five), fourth in hits (71), fifth in doubles (17), and eighth in batting average (.370) and stolen bases (15). In conference games only, Nett leads the league in batting average (.432) and hits (57) while ranking second in rush scored (45). In 47 games played, the Husky leadoff hitter has 22 multi-hit games and has scored a run in 33 contests, including 16 straight between April 3-24.
Lanthier is the fifth Husky freshman to earn NSIC first team honors and the first since 2013 to earn the nod as a relief pitcher, joining Reese Gregory in 2013. The Northfield, Minn., native has been superb out of the bullpen for the Huskies, earning a 5-0 mark with one save and 2.43 ERA in 15 appearances (two starts). In 33.1 innings pitched, Lanthier has struck out 48 batters, fourth-best on the team compared to only 17 walks. His 16 hits allowed are the lowest of anyone on the team who has recorded 20.0 innings pitched.
Wallat was named to the second team to earn the first all-conference honor of his career, as he has been a driving force at the top of the Husky lineup all season. The two-hole hitter is hitting .371 with 10 doubles, two home runs, 28 RBI and 48 runs scored, all career-highs and significant increases from his freshman campaign. Among conference leaders, he ranks third in on base percentage (.488), fourth in walks (32), sixth in hits (48) and seventh in runs scored (48) and batting average (.371).
Wallat and Navratil earned golden gloves for their spectacular work in the field at third base and first base, respectively. The duo marks the first time the Huskies have had two players on the All-Defensive Team since 2015 when Michael Jurgella (C) and Eric Loxtercamp (OF) earned the nod. Wallat produced a .991 fielding percentage at the hot corner with just one error, 36 put-outs and 70 asissts, while Navratil had a .996 fielding percentage with one error, 252 put-outs and 11 assists.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Baseball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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