Friday, May 3
St. Cloud, Minn.
9:30 A.M. CT
St. Cloud State
vs
Bemidji State
SCSU Baseball Closes Regular Season by Hosting Bemidji State
5/2/2024 12:03:00 PM | Baseball
Final weekend at Faber includes Senior Day, Parents’ Weekend, Celebration of Life for Pete Pratt, Alumni Day and Youth Baseball Day
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Baseball (29-17, 25-11 NSIC) will host Bemidji State (3-44, 2-35 NSIC) for the final weekend of the regular season this weekend at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud. The weekend will be filled with many festivities including senior day, parents' weekend, a celebration of life for Pete Pratt and more. The two teams will play a seven-inning / nine-inning doubleheader on Friday, May 3 beginning at 9:30 a.m. CT followed by a nine-inning game on Saturday, May 4.
The Huskies have won or split the last nine series it has played dating back to March 29-30 against Sioux Falls. SCSU is 17-6 on the road in 2024, its most wins on the road since a 24-2 mark in 2015.
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
Game 1 vs. Bemidji State – Friday, May 3 / 9:30 a.m. CT / Live Stream / Live Stats
Game 2 vs. Bemidji State – Friday, May 3 / 11:30 a.m. CT / Live Stream / Live Stats
Game 3 vs. Bemidji State – Saturday, May 4 / 3:00 p.m. CT / Live Stream / Live Stats
WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
This weekend's series at Joe Faber Field plans to be a busy one with many activities planned at the ballpark. Husky fans are encouraged to come out and cheer the Huskies on while enjoying one final weekend of baseball at Faber. Here is a rundown of everything planned this weekend:
POSTSEASON PLAY NEARS
The final weekend of the regular season is upon us, and the postseason picture is becoming clearer as the Huskies have themselves poised for a high seed at the NSIC Tournament. At 25-11, SCSU is currently in fourth place and only one-half game behind Minnesota Crookston (25-10). The Golden Eagles will finish the regular season on the road at Northern State this weekend. Ahead of UMC and SCSU in the NSIC standings is Augustana (29-6) and Minnesota State (27-9). The Vikings will host Minot State while the Mavericks head to Southwest Minnesota State to close the regular season. The 2024 NSIC Baseball Tournament is slated to begin on Wednesday, May 8 in Bismarck, N.D.
The second of three NCAA Division II Baseball Regional Rankings were released on Wednesday, with Augustana and Minnesota State included from the NSIC. The Huskies were included on the first set of regional rankings. The 38-team NCAA Central Region is made up of teams from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Great American Conference (GAC). Automatic bids are awarded to the tournament champions from each conference with the final five spots awarded on an at-large basis.
The championship preliminary round competition provides for 16 regional sites that consist of either 3-team or 4-team, double-elimination tournaments. The winners of these regional-round competitions advance to a super-regional round that consist of two teams competing in a best-of-three series. The NCAA DII Baseball Selection Show is scheduled to stream on NCAA.com on Sunday, May 12 at 9 p.m. CT.
SMITH LEADS THE WAY
Junior Sawyer Smith (Somers, Wis.) has led the way offensively for the Huskies this season, leading the team in numerous categories, including batting average (.373), hits (69), triples (three) and RBI (54). He also ranks in the NSIC's top-10 in many of those categories, ranking fourth in RBI (54), sixth in doubles (15), sixth in hits (69), seventh in triples (three) and 10th in slugging percentage (.649). The Husky shortstop also leads the team in multi-hit games (22) and multi-RBI games (16).
The Husky junior is on pace to earn All-NSIC recognition this season and potentially All-America honors as he nears the program's single season top-10 lists for several categories. He is currently three RBI, five doubles, nine hits and two home runs away from etching his name in the SCSU record book all-time.
Smith led the offensive charge for the Huskies in its conference-opening sweep of SMSU with SCSU outscoring the Mustangs 35-5 in the four-game set. Smith went 8-for-14 (.571) with a .600 OBP while recording four extra base hits with two home runs and two doubles. Smith recorded eight RBI in the series and scored seven runs. He was also the driving force of the St. Cloud State offense in a doubleheader split with Minnesota Duluth and series win over Wayne State, as he hit .389 (7-for-18) with three home runs and 10 RBI. He also recorded an on-base percentage of .478 and a slugging percentage of .889.
MAKING THE MOST OF HIS LAST HURRAH
Graduate Cal James (Buffalo, Minn.) joined the Huskies ahead of the 2024 season after four highly successful seasons at U-Mary, and he's making the most of his final collegiate season. James is currently hitting .360 while leading the Huskies in on-base percentage (.500), home runs (12), runs scored (50) and slugging percentage (.671), while ranking second in RBI (43), third in hits (59) and third in doubles (13). Among NSIC leaders, he ranks fourth in on-base percentage (.500), fifth in slugging percentage (.671), eighth in home runs (12) and eighth in runs scored (50). He hit his 40th career home run against Minnesota Duluth on April 18 and is currently ranks ninth in program history in single season home runs with 12.
James was especially good against his former team (U-Mary) on April 13-14, as he hit .615 (8-for13) with three home runs and eight RBI. In the series-opening 15-1 win on Saturday, James went 4-for-5 with a double, three RBI and two runs. His four hits were a season-high and marked his 13th multi-hit game of the season. James homered twice in a 12-6 setback on Saturday, marking his second multi-homer game of the season and sixth of his career. He finished the Mary series with a 2-for-3 day at the dish on Sunday while reaching base five times (three HBP) with a home run and two RBI.
James was named NSIC Player of the Week after SCSU's 3-1 trip to Colorado, as he hit .500 (9-for-18) over the four-game stand with four home runs, 11 RBI and eight runs.
QUARTET OF LEFTIES TAKE THE MOUND
St. Cloud State's trio of lefties – redshirt junior Luke Tupy (New Prague, Minn.), senior Payton VanBeck (Elrosa, Minn.) and senior Jack Habeck (Appleton, Wis.) – have made starts in 31 of SCSU's 46 games this season. The three Huskies currently rank 5-7-9 in innings pitched in the NSIC this season, with Tupy recording 63.1 innings pitched followed by VanBeck at 61.2 IP and Habeck at 58.1 IP.
Tupy has solidified his position as the ace of the Husky rotation having twice been named the NSIC Pitcher of the Week and is a strong candidate for NSIC Pitcher of the Year. In 11 starts this season, Tupy is 7-2 on the season with a 2.98 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, .202 opposing batting average and 82 strikeouts. Tupy leads the NSIC in strikeouts (82), while ranking second in wins (seven), third in opposing batting average (.202) and fifth in ERA (2.98). Tupy has struck out eight or more batters in six times this season, including in three of his last four starts, while reaching 10 punch outs three times. He's allowed one or fewer runs in five of 11 starts and has gone six or more innings in eight of his last nine outings. Tupy has a real chance to move high up the single season strikeout list as his 82 punch outs currently rank eighth all-time and is 25 strikeouts away from the program record of 107 set by David Deminsky in 2010.
VanBeck has pitched five or more innings in eight of 10 starts this season and has allowed one or fewer earned runs in four starts. He is currently 5-3 on the season with a 3.65 ERA. Habeck has recorded wins in three of his last four starts and enters the weekend with a 6-3 mark and a 5.40 ERA. He went a season-long 7.1 innings with a season-best six strikeouts to earn the victory over Mary on April 14.
Additionally, junior Kaden Pfeffer (Racine, Wis.) has been remarkable in the mid-week starter role for the Huskies, posting a 5-0 mark with a 3.44 ERA. The Husky junior has recorded three complete games in his last three starts, matching Tupy for the most this season. It also marks the most by a Husky pitcher since Dominic Austing had three in 2018 and the first time since 2015 the Huskies have had a pair of Huskies with three or more complete games each. SCSU's seven complete games as a team are the most since recording nine in 2022.
COACH DOLAN GETS 600TH SCSU WIN
With a 13-11 win over U-Mary on April 14, head coach Pat Dolan recorded his 600th career win at St. Cloud State. Already the winningest coach in program history, Dolan is now 608-241-1 in 17 seasons at SCSU. Overall, Dolan's 860 career wins at four-year institutions ranks 15th nationally among active Division-II coaches. Adding in his time with Itasca Community College (1995-96), Dolan has 914 career wins. Dolan has led the Huskies to six conference championships and 10 NCAA regional appearances in his 17 seasons at the helm of the Huskies, including a program record 54 wins in 2015.
The Huskies reached 20 conference wins for the 11th time in program history, all coming under Dolan.
Dolan By the Numbers
The Huskies have won or split the last nine series it has played dating back to March 29-30 against Sioux Falls. SCSU is 17-6 on the road in 2024, its most wins on the road since a 24-2 mark in 2015.
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
Game 1 vs. Bemidji State – Friday, May 3 / 9:30 a.m. CT / Live Stream / Live Stats
Game 2 vs. Bemidji State – Friday, May 3 / 11:30 a.m. CT / Live Stream / Live Stats
Game 3 vs. Bemidji State – Saturday, May 4 / 3:00 p.m. CT / Live Stream / Live Stats
WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
This weekend's series at Joe Faber Field plans to be a busy one with many activities planned at the ballpark. Husky fans are encouraged to come out and cheer the Huskies on while enjoying one final weekend of baseball at Faber. Here is a rundown of everything planned this weekend:
- Senior Day. The Huskies will honor their 14 seniors throughout the weekend with a post-game ceremony scheduled for post-game on Saturday. This season's senior class includes Cooper Avery, Drew Beier, Garrett Bevacqua, Kevin Butler, Ben Clapp, Noah Dehne, Mason Diaz, Grady Fuchs, Mitchell Gumbko, Jack Habeck, Cal James, Tyler Schiller, Luke Tupy and Payton VanBeck.
- Pete Pratt Celebration of Life. SCSU will celebrate the life of former athlete and coach Pete Pratt prior to Saturday's game. All alums who played with or were coached by Pete are welcome to join in on a first pitch ceremony before the game. Pete's brother Tim Pratt, who has 40+ years of experience as an umpire in central Minnesota will be on-hand to call the first pitch. SCSU Baseball alumni will receive free admission to the game and a Pete Pratt #18 replica shirt.
- 2023 NSIC Championship recognition. SCSU will honor its 2023 NSIC Tournament championship team by handing out rings to the team prior to the game on Saturday.
- Parents Weekend. In addition to honoring our Husky seniors, the team would like to recognize the parents of our team for their support and contributions to the team.
- Youth Baseball Day. Youth campers from Special Olympics of Central Minnesota, Minnesota Miracle League, J and J Holmes and Starz of Tomorrow are welcome on Saturday to join the Huskies for the national anthem, as well as run the bases post-game and get autographs from the Huskies.
POSTSEASON PLAY NEARS
The final weekend of the regular season is upon us, and the postseason picture is becoming clearer as the Huskies have themselves poised for a high seed at the NSIC Tournament. At 25-11, SCSU is currently in fourth place and only one-half game behind Minnesota Crookston (25-10). The Golden Eagles will finish the regular season on the road at Northern State this weekend. Ahead of UMC and SCSU in the NSIC standings is Augustana (29-6) and Minnesota State (27-9). The Vikings will host Minot State while the Mavericks head to Southwest Minnesota State to close the regular season. The 2024 NSIC Baseball Tournament is slated to begin on Wednesday, May 8 in Bismarck, N.D.
The second of three NCAA Division II Baseball Regional Rankings were released on Wednesday, with Augustana and Minnesota State included from the NSIC. The Huskies were included on the first set of regional rankings. The 38-team NCAA Central Region is made up of teams from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Great American Conference (GAC). Automatic bids are awarded to the tournament champions from each conference with the final five spots awarded on an at-large basis.
The championship preliminary round competition provides for 16 regional sites that consist of either 3-team or 4-team, double-elimination tournaments. The winners of these regional-round competitions advance to a super-regional round that consist of two teams competing in a best-of-three series. The NCAA DII Baseball Selection Show is scheduled to stream on NCAA.com on Sunday, May 12 at 9 p.m. CT.
SMITH LEADS THE WAY
Junior Sawyer Smith (Somers, Wis.) has led the way offensively for the Huskies this season, leading the team in numerous categories, including batting average (.373), hits (69), triples (three) and RBI (54). He also ranks in the NSIC's top-10 in many of those categories, ranking fourth in RBI (54), sixth in doubles (15), sixth in hits (69), seventh in triples (three) and 10th in slugging percentage (.649). The Husky shortstop also leads the team in multi-hit games (22) and multi-RBI games (16).
The Husky junior is on pace to earn All-NSIC recognition this season and potentially All-America honors as he nears the program's single season top-10 lists for several categories. He is currently three RBI, five doubles, nine hits and two home runs away from etching his name in the SCSU record book all-time.
Smith led the offensive charge for the Huskies in its conference-opening sweep of SMSU with SCSU outscoring the Mustangs 35-5 in the four-game set. Smith went 8-for-14 (.571) with a .600 OBP while recording four extra base hits with two home runs and two doubles. Smith recorded eight RBI in the series and scored seven runs. He was also the driving force of the St. Cloud State offense in a doubleheader split with Minnesota Duluth and series win over Wayne State, as he hit .389 (7-for-18) with three home runs and 10 RBI. He also recorded an on-base percentage of .478 and a slugging percentage of .889.
MAKING THE MOST OF HIS LAST HURRAH
Graduate Cal James (Buffalo, Minn.) joined the Huskies ahead of the 2024 season after four highly successful seasons at U-Mary, and he's making the most of his final collegiate season. James is currently hitting .360 while leading the Huskies in on-base percentage (.500), home runs (12), runs scored (50) and slugging percentage (.671), while ranking second in RBI (43), third in hits (59) and third in doubles (13). Among NSIC leaders, he ranks fourth in on-base percentage (.500), fifth in slugging percentage (.671), eighth in home runs (12) and eighth in runs scored (50). He hit his 40th career home run against Minnesota Duluth on April 18 and is currently ranks ninth in program history in single season home runs with 12.
James was especially good against his former team (U-Mary) on April 13-14, as he hit .615 (8-for13) with three home runs and eight RBI. In the series-opening 15-1 win on Saturday, James went 4-for-5 with a double, three RBI and two runs. His four hits were a season-high and marked his 13th multi-hit game of the season. James homered twice in a 12-6 setback on Saturday, marking his second multi-homer game of the season and sixth of his career. He finished the Mary series with a 2-for-3 day at the dish on Sunday while reaching base five times (three HBP) with a home run and two RBI.
James was named NSIC Player of the Week after SCSU's 3-1 trip to Colorado, as he hit .500 (9-for-18) over the four-game stand with four home runs, 11 RBI and eight runs.
QUARTET OF LEFTIES TAKE THE MOUND
St. Cloud State's trio of lefties – redshirt junior Luke Tupy (New Prague, Minn.), senior Payton VanBeck (Elrosa, Minn.) and senior Jack Habeck (Appleton, Wis.) – have made starts in 31 of SCSU's 46 games this season. The three Huskies currently rank 5-7-9 in innings pitched in the NSIC this season, with Tupy recording 63.1 innings pitched followed by VanBeck at 61.2 IP and Habeck at 58.1 IP.
Tupy has solidified his position as the ace of the Husky rotation having twice been named the NSIC Pitcher of the Week and is a strong candidate for NSIC Pitcher of the Year. In 11 starts this season, Tupy is 7-2 on the season with a 2.98 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, .202 opposing batting average and 82 strikeouts. Tupy leads the NSIC in strikeouts (82), while ranking second in wins (seven), third in opposing batting average (.202) and fifth in ERA (2.98). Tupy has struck out eight or more batters in six times this season, including in three of his last four starts, while reaching 10 punch outs three times. He's allowed one or fewer runs in five of 11 starts and has gone six or more innings in eight of his last nine outings. Tupy has a real chance to move high up the single season strikeout list as his 82 punch outs currently rank eighth all-time and is 25 strikeouts away from the program record of 107 set by David Deminsky in 2010.
VanBeck has pitched five or more innings in eight of 10 starts this season and has allowed one or fewer earned runs in four starts. He is currently 5-3 on the season with a 3.65 ERA. Habeck has recorded wins in three of his last four starts and enters the weekend with a 6-3 mark and a 5.40 ERA. He went a season-long 7.1 innings with a season-best six strikeouts to earn the victory over Mary on April 14.
Additionally, junior Kaden Pfeffer (Racine, Wis.) has been remarkable in the mid-week starter role for the Huskies, posting a 5-0 mark with a 3.44 ERA. The Husky junior has recorded three complete games in his last three starts, matching Tupy for the most this season. It also marks the most by a Husky pitcher since Dominic Austing had three in 2018 and the first time since 2015 the Huskies have had a pair of Huskies with three or more complete games each. SCSU's seven complete games as a team are the most since recording nine in 2022.
COACH DOLAN GETS 600TH SCSU WIN
With a 13-11 win over U-Mary on April 14, head coach Pat Dolan recorded his 600th career win at St. Cloud State. Already the winningest coach in program history, Dolan is now 608-241-1 in 17 seasons at SCSU. Overall, Dolan's 860 career wins at four-year institutions ranks 15th nationally among active Division-II coaches. Adding in his time with Itasca Community College (1995-96), Dolan has 914 career wins. Dolan has led the Huskies to six conference championships and 10 NCAA regional appearances in his 17 seasons at the helm of the Huskies, including a program record 54 wins in 2015.
The Huskies reached 20 conference wins for the 11th time in program history, all coming under Dolan.
Dolan By the Numbers
- Itasca Community College (CC, 1995-96) – 54-17
- Belmont Abbey (NCAA D-II, 1999-01) – 66-81
- Dakota State (NAIA, 2002-07) – 186-106
- St. Cloud State (NCAA D-II, 2008-present) – 604-240-1
- 10 NCAA Regional Appearances
- 4 NSIC Tournament Championships
- 2 NSIC Regular Season Championships
- 21 All-Americans
- 85 All-Conference Honorees
- 2015 NSIC Coach of the Year
Players Mentioned
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/ BaseballSt Cloud State Baseball Vs Southwest Minnesota State Game 4
Sunday, March 16
St Cloud State Baseball Vs Southwest Minnesota State Game 3
Sunday, March 16
St Cloud State Baseball Vs Southwest Minnesota State Game 2
Thursday, March 13
St Cloud State Baseball Vs Southwest Minnesota State Game 1
Thursday, March 13
