Riola Powers Huskies to NSIC Tournament Win over Sioux Falls

Wednesday, May 11

Sioux Falls, S.D.

6:00 P.M. CT

St. Cloud State

37-11

Sioux Falls

25-26

Sioux Falls

St. Cloud State

Riola Powers Huskies to NSIC Tournament Win over Sioux Falls

5/12/2022 1:28:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Riola blasts three home runs to complete Husky comeback

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – St. Cloud State Baseball (37-11, 28-5 NSIC) scored nine unanswered runs to come back and defeat Sioux Falls (25-26, 17-19 NSIC) in the opening round of the NSIC Tournament, 10-8, on Wednesday evening at Ronken Field in Sioux Falls, S.D. Redshirt junior Sam Riola (Ham Lake, Minn.) powered the Huskies to victory, hitting three home runs while driving in seven runs in the game.

KEY MOMENT

The Huskies trailed 8-1 in the game before scoring nine runs in the eighth and ninth innings to advance in the tournament. Riola was the hero of the game, as he hit three-run home runs in each inning. Senior SS Max Gamm (Woodbury, Minn.) and freshman IF Sawyer Smith (Somers, Wis.) started off the Huskies ninth inning rally with back-to-back doubles, as Smith's extra base hit made the score 8-6. Sophomore OF Tyler Schiller (Hutchinson, Minn.) and redshirt sophomore IF Tate Wallat (Federal Way, Wash.) singled after that to make way for Riola.

Riola stepped up to the plate and after a first-pitch ball, swung at a low-outside pitch and hammered it over the right field wall for his third home run and a Husky victory.

TOP HUSKIES

Riola, who was named NSIC Player and Newcomer of the Year on Tuesday, continued his remarkable campaign in 2022 by going 4-for-5 with three home runs, a double, seven RBI and three runs scored.
Senior LHP Trevor Koenig (St. Cloud, Minn.) got the start in the game and struck out seven in four innings of work while allowing three runs to score.
Redshirt sophomore OF John Nett (Appleton, Wis.) went 1-for-6 in the game with a two RBI and two runs scored.

GAME NOTES

Riola mashed his 18^th, 19^th and 20^th home run of the season and inched closer to the school record mark of 21 set by Reese Gregory in 2016.
Riola is the fourth Husky to hit three home runs in a game, joining Ron Palmer (4/7/68 vs. Offutt Air Force Base), Greg Thayer (4/6/71 vs. Augsburg) and Matt Anthony (3/4/90).
Koenig recorded seven strikeouts in the game, the second-most he has had in a game this season, behind only the nine he had against Bentley on March 11.

UP NEXT

St. Cloud State will now face Minnesota State Mankato in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. CT at Ronken Field.

For all the latest on St. Cloud State Baseball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.