Friday, May 5
Cold Spring, Minn.
2:00 p.m. CT
St. Cloud State
vs
Wayne State
Photo by: Kaitlyn Zuehl
St. Cloud State closes regular season with Wildcats
5/4/2023 3:00:00 PM | Baseball
Huskies host Wayne State for three-game weekend series in Cold Spring
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Baseball (28-15, 20-8 NSIC) closes out the regular season with a weekend series against Wayne State (22-24, 16-16 NSIC) in Cold Spring, Minnesota at Cold Spring Baseball Park. The series will open with a Friday doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m. CT with Saturday's regular season finale scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. CT start.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
All three games will be broadcast on the NSIC Network with live stats provided by SCSU. Links to each coverage option can be found on the SCSU Baseball schedule page.
LAST TIME OUT
SCSU received another strong start in their 11-3 sweep-clinching win on Tuesday against Northern State, receiving 4.2 innings of three-run ball from junior southpaw Payton VanBeck. Making a key spot start as the Huskies set their staff up for next week's NSIC Tournament, VanBeck took a no-decision while striking out four, scattering seven hits and a pair of walks. The Huskies lineup woke up from a slow start in the third as Sam Riola (3-for-5, R, 2B, 2 SB) scored on a wild pitch to tie things at one. Sawyer Smith (1-for-3, BB, HBP, R, HR, 2 RBI) put St. Cloud State in front an inning later with a towering two-run shot out to right. After Northern chased VanBeck and knotted the game at 3-3 in the fifth, St. Cloud State struck right back with a three-spot in the home half. Ethan Navratil (1-for-3, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, SF) gave the Huskies the lead with a sacrifice fly then Noah Dehne (1-for-3, 2B 2 RBI) laced a two-run double down the left field line on a hot shot deflected off the third baseman's glove. John Nett (1-for-4, 2 BB, 2 RBI) singled in a pair in the seventh while Navratil, Tate Wallat (2-for-2, R, RBI) and Garrett Bevacqua (0-for-0, RBI, SF) tacked on a run each in the eighth with two RBI singles and a sac fly respectively. Cooper Avery earned his first win of the season with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Jack Habeck added a scoreless frame with one strikeout while working around a pair of baserunners, giving way to a shutout eighth tossed by Grady Fuchs. Ethan Lanthier closed out the win with two punchouts in the ninth.
WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
The Huskies will celebrate Family Day between games on Friday, welcoming their student-athlete's families to the field with the fathers of each senior throwing out the first pitch. Senior Day festivities will be held in an extended ceremony following Friday's second game, honoring the program's seven seniors – Riley Ahern, Drew Bulson, Eli Emerson, Mason Primus, Sam Riola, Parker Savard, and Tate Wallat. Returning to Cold Spring for the first time since the legendary back-to-back no-hitters thrown by Logan Birr and Scott Lieser against Minnesota Crookston on April 27, 2012, the Huskies' series will be a homecoming of sorts for seniors Drew Bulson, Eli Emerson, Mason Primus and Tate Wallat. Emerson and Primus played their high school ball with ROCORI and all four spend their summers playing in Cold Spring in the Minnesota Baseball Association.
STANDINGS & SUCH
The Huskies enter the week third in the NSIC standings, one game behind Minnesota State-Mankato and half a game up on Minnesota Crookston. Crookston closes with a weekend at SMSU while the Mavericks host Concordia-St. Paul on the final weekend of the regular season.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Wayne State enters the regular season finale in a tight race for the No. 8 seed in the NSIC Tournament, owning a 22-24 record with a 16-16 mark in conference play as they try to stave off late-season pushes from CSP, Mary and Upper Iowa. The Wildcats boast a strong top of the order featuring five bats hitting better than .300. Left fielder Colin Lynam leads the club with 46 RBI and a 1.052 OPS while shortstop Quinn McCafferty is the leading hitter at .355. Centerfielder Carter Thomas slashes .348/.449/.538 for a .987 OPS with 18 stolen bases and five home runs. Freshman slugger Trey Wells has launched 11 home runs, leading the club in his first season behind the dish. Southpaw Corbin Kirk (3-4, 5.55 ERA, 47.2 IP, 71:26 K:BB) fronts the rotation while righthander Braden Cannon has been a true weapon in leverage spots - recording nine saves with a 2.08 ERA across 34.2 innings of work.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: RILEY AHERN
A three-year captain at St. Cloud State, Riley Ahern has won 16 games over his five-year playing career while covering over 150 innings and striking out 180 batters. He is a two time NSIC Pitcher of the Week, a three-time NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence honoree and was named a Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction recipient this spring. Riley is the son of Pat and Barb Ahern and will earn his MBA from St. Cloud State in addition to his undergraduate degrees in Finance and Management.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: DREW BULSON
A four-year starter behind the plate, Drew Bulson owns a lifetime average of .305 with nearly 40 extra-base hits including 16 home runs. This season, Bulson produced the second-highest batting average by a catcher in program history with a .394 mark. Drew is the son of Huskies alumni Andy and Mishon Bulson and will be earning his degree in Marketing with a minor in Management.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: ELI EMERSON
Eli Emerson has served as a key piece of the St. Cloud State bullpen in each of his four seasons of competition, logging nearly 60 innings over his collegiate career with six wins, two saves and 50 strikeouts. Over his last three seasons, Emerson has stranded 20 of 22 inherited runners for a strand rate of over 90% - leading the staff over that span. Eli is the son of Stacy and Kari Emerson and will be earning his degree in Marketing.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: MASON PRIMUS
Mason Primus has been a two-sport standout in his career at St. Cloud State, spending two seasons as a quarterback with Huskies Football before returning to campus as a member of the Baseball program last year. Over his collegiate career, Primus has played in 62 games with an on-base percentage of .382 while driving in 25 runs. Mason is the son of Tim and Lori Primus and will be earning his degree in General Business.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: SAM RIOLA
Sam Riola has made an incredible impact in just two years with the Huskies, earning conference and region Player of the Year honors last season while winning the NSIC batting title and is currently tied for the program lead in career home runs with 35 over two seasons. The All-American has hit nearly .400 across two seasons with 21 doubles, nine triples, 118 RBI and an OPS of nearly 13 hundred in addition to posting an ERA of 3.68 over 66 innings. Sam is the son of Pete and Anne Riola and will be earning his degree in Environmental Studies.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: PARKER SAVARD
Parker Savard has played over 120 games over his collegiate career with a .336 average, 13 doubles, 27 stolen bases and 48 RBI. The second baseman has played a key role in his three-year career with St. Cloud State, leading the Huskies to the conference tournament each season. Parker is the son of Brian and Barb Savard and will earn his degree in Health & Physical Education.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: TATE WALLAT
Tate Wallat has been a staple at the hot corner over his three-year career at St. Cloud State, earning the Rawlings National Gold Glove last season for his work at third base in addition to Second Team All-NSIC honors. Wallat owns a career batting average of .311 with 30 extra-base hits and over 70 RBI. Tate is the son of Tom and Carla Wallat and will be earning his degree in Finance.
A KING IS CROWNED
Redshirt senior second baseman Sam Riola has tied the St. Cloud State career home run record, blasting No. 35 of his Huskies career on Saturday at Minnesota Duluth. Riola now shares the career mark with legendary SCSU corner infielder Zak "Squatch" Hoffman, a 2016 graduate who feasted on NSIC pitching over his four-year Huskies career. Incredibly, Riola has matched the record in just two seasons - blasting 22 last season and 13 this spring.
NSIC PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH
Junior centerfielder John Nett is enjoying an incredible campaign at the top of the Huskies order, currently leading the NSIC Batting Title race by a whopping 56 points by slashing .453/.537/.663 for a 1.199 OPS. He ranks fifth in the Nation and leads the NSIC in batting average, on-base percentage and hits (78) while ranking third in doubles (18); fourth in stolen bases (19); fifth in OPS and sixth in runs scored (51). Nett's defensive work in center has been simply phenomenal as the junior has logged 326.2 errorless innings with four outfield assists and a stellar 2.42 range factor/9. Of note, Nett is also within striking distance of breaking the Huskies' modern-era single season batting average record of .457 held by Jordan Smith.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Baseball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
All three games will be broadcast on the NSIC Network with live stats provided by SCSU. Links to each coverage option can be found on the SCSU Baseball schedule page.
LAST TIME OUT
SCSU received another strong start in their 11-3 sweep-clinching win on Tuesday against Northern State, receiving 4.2 innings of three-run ball from junior southpaw Payton VanBeck. Making a key spot start as the Huskies set their staff up for next week's NSIC Tournament, VanBeck took a no-decision while striking out four, scattering seven hits and a pair of walks. The Huskies lineup woke up from a slow start in the third as Sam Riola (3-for-5, R, 2B, 2 SB) scored on a wild pitch to tie things at one. Sawyer Smith (1-for-3, BB, HBP, R, HR, 2 RBI) put St. Cloud State in front an inning later with a towering two-run shot out to right. After Northern chased VanBeck and knotted the game at 3-3 in the fifth, St. Cloud State struck right back with a three-spot in the home half. Ethan Navratil (1-for-3, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, SF) gave the Huskies the lead with a sacrifice fly then Noah Dehne (1-for-3, 2B 2 RBI) laced a two-run double down the left field line on a hot shot deflected off the third baseman's glove. John Nett (1-for-4, 2 BB, 2 RBI) singled in a pair in the seventh while Navratil, Tate Wallat (2-for-2, R, RBI) and Garrett Bevacqua (0-for-0, RBI, SF) tacked on a run each in the eighth with two RBI singles and a sac fly respectively. Cooper Avery earned his first win of the season with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Jack Habeck added a scoreless frame with one strikeout while working around a pair of baserunners, giving way to a shutout eighth tossed by Grady Fuchs. Ethan Lanthier closed out the win with two punchouts in the ninth.
WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
The Huskies will celebrate Family Day between games on Friday, welcoming their student-athlete's families to the field with the fathers of each senior throwing out the first pitch. Senior Day festivities will be held in an extended ceremony following Friday's second game, honoring the program's seven seniors – Riley Ahern, Drew Bulson, Eli Emerson, Mason Primus, Sam Riola, Parker Savard, and Tate Wallat. Returning to Cold Spring for the first time since the legendary back-to-back no-hitters thrown by Logan Birr and Scott Lieser against Minnesota Crookston on April 27, 2012, the Huskies' series will be a homecoming of sorts for seniors Drew Bulson, Eli Emerson, Mason Primus and Tate Wallat. Emerson and Primus played their high school ball with ROCORI and all four spend their summers playing in Cold Spring in the Minnesota Baseball Association.
STANDINGS & SUCH
The Huskies enter the week third in the NSIC standings, one game behind Minnesota State-Mankato and half a game up on Minnesota Crookston. Crookston closes with a weekend at SMSU while the Mavericks host Concordia-St. Paul on the final weekend of the regular season.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Wayne State enters the regular season finale in a tight race for the No. 8 seed in the NSIC Tournament, owning a 22-24 record with a 16-16 mark in conference play as they try to stave off late-season pushes from CSP, Mary and Upper Iowa. The Wildcats boast a strong top of the order featuring five bats hitting better than .300. Left fielder Colin Lynam leads the club with 46 RBI and a 1.052 OPS while shortstop Quinn McCafferty is the leading hitter at .355. Centerfielder Carter Thomas slashes .348/.449/.538 for a .987 OPS with 18 stolen bases and five home runs. Freshman slugger Trey Wells has launched 11 home runs, leading the club in his first season behind the dish. Southpaw Corbin Kirk (3-4, 5.55 ERA, 47.2 IP, 71:26 K:BB) fronts the rotation while righthander Braden Cannon has been a true weapon in leverage spots - recording nine saves with a 2.08 ERA across 34.2 innings of work.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: RILEY AHERN
A three-year captain at St. Cloud State, Riley Ahern has won 16 games over his five-year playing career while covering over 150 innings and striking out 180 batters. He is a two time NSIC Pitcher of the Week, a three-time NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence honoree and was named a Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction recipient this spring. Riley is the son of Pat and Barb Ahern and will earn his MBA from St. Cloud State in addition to his undergraduate degrees in Finance and Management.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: DREW BULSON
A four-year starter behind the plate, Drew Bulson owns a lifetime average of .305 with nearly 40 extra-base hits including 16 home runs. This season, Bulson produced the second-highest batting average by a catcher in program history with a .394 mark. Drew is the son of Huskies alumni Andy and Mishon Bulson and will be earning his degree in Marketing with a minor in Management.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: ELI EMERSON
Eli Emerson has served as a key piece of the St. Cloud State bullpen in each of his four seasons of competition, logging nearly 60 innings over his collegiate career with six wins, two saves and 50 strikeouts. Over his last three seasons, Emerson has stranded 20 of 22 inherited runners for a strand rate of over 90% - leading the staff over that span. Eli is the son of Stacy and Kari Emerson and will be earning his degree in Marketing.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: MASON PRIMUS
Mason Primus has been a two-sport standout in his career at St. Cloud State, spending two seasons as a quarterback with Huskies Football before returning to campus as a member of the Baseball program last year. Over his collegiate career, Primus has played in 62 games with an on-base percentage of .382 while driving in 25 runs. Mason is the son of Tim and Lori Primus and will be earning his degree in General Business.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: SAM RIOLA
Sam Riola has made an incredible impact in just two years with the Huskies, earning conference and region Player of the Year honors last season while winning the NSIC batting title and is currently tied for the program lead in career home runs with 35 over two seasons. The All-American has hit nearly .400 across two seasons with 21 doubles, nine triples, 118 RBI and an OPS of nearly 13 hundred in addition to posting an ERA of 3.68 over 66 innings. Sam is the son of Pete and Anne Riola and will be earning his degree in Environmental Studies.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: PARKER SAVARD
Parker Savard has played over 120 games over his collegiate career with a .336 average, 13 doubles, 27 stolen bases and 48 RBI. The second baseman has played a key role in his three-year career with St. Cloud State, leading the Huskies to the conference tournament each season. Parker is the son of Brian and Barb Savard and will earn his degree in Health & Physical Education.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: TATE WALLAT
Tate Wallat has been a staple at the hot corner over his three-year career at St. Cloud State, earning the Rawlings National Gold Glove last season for his work at third base in addition to Second Team All-NSIC honors. Wallat owns a career batting average of .311 with 30 extra-base hits and over 70 RBI. Tate is the son of Tom and Carla Wallat and will be earning his degree in Finance.
A KING IS CROWNED
Redshirt senior second baseman Sam Riola has tied the St. Cloud State career home run record, blasting No. 35 of his Huskies career on Saturday at Minnesota Duluth. Riola now shares the career mark with legendary SCSU corner infielder Zak "Squatch" Hoffman, a 2016 graduate who feasted on NSIC pitching over his four-year Huskies career. Incredibly, Riola has matched the record in just two seasons - blasting 22 last season and 13 this spring.
NSIC PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH
Junior centerfielder John Nett is enjoying an incredible campaign at the top of the Huskies order, currently leading the NSIC Batting Title race by a whopping 56 points by slashing .453/.537/.663 for a 1.199 OPS. He ranks fifth in the Nation and leads the NSIC in batting average, on-base percentage and hits (78) while ranking third in doubles (18); fourth in stolen bases (19); fifth in OPS and sixth in runs scored (51). Nett's defensive work in center has been simply phenomenal as the junior has logged 326.2 errorless innings with four outfield assists and a stellar 2.42 range factor/9. Of note, Nett is also within striking distance of breaking the Huskies' modern-era single season batting average record of .457 held by Jordan Smith.
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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