Monday, February 24
Sioux Falls, S.D.
1:00 P.M. CT
St. Cloud State
2-2, 1-0
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Augustana
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St. Cloud State
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Augustana
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Bello’s Clutch Home Run Lifts Huskies to Win in Doubleheader Split with No. 5 Augustana
2/24/2025 10:45:00 PM | Baseball
Kolacia’s quality start and Bello’s seventh inning home run lifts SCSU to 4-3 win in game one
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – St. Cloud State Baseball (2-3, 1-1 NSIC) earned a split to open a four-game series with No. 5 Augustana (4-2, 1-1 NSIC) on Monday afternoon in Sioux Falls. In the first game, the Huskies scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning and shut the door in the bottom half for a 4-3 victory. In the rematch, SCSU had a runner thrown out at the plate in the ninth inning to fall, 4-3.
GAME 1 – SCSU 4, AUGIE 3
SCSU and Augie traded runs through four innings in game one. The Huskies took the first lead of the game in the second inning when junior Ethan Krueger (Wauwatosa, Wis.) scored on a sacrifice fly from redshirt junior Brayden Jacobson (West Fargo, N.D.), but then the Vikings tied it up in the third on an RBI single. SCSU retook the lead in the fourth when sophomore Wilmis Castro (San Juan, Puerto Rico) scored on a wild pitch, only for Augustana to take its first lead of the game in the fourth on a two-run home run.
SCSU got a strong start from its starter redshirt junior Cael Kolacia (Fort Dodge, Iowa), who left after six innings where he allowed three runs on four hits, and two walks with two strikeouts. He left the door open for a rally, and the Huskies took advantage in the seventh inning. An Augustana error allowed redshirt junior Liam Moreno (Sun Prairie, Wis.) to reach first, leading to a two-run home run from redshirt junior Eric Bello (Manati, Puerto Rico) to take a 4-3 lead.
Redshirt senior Frankie Volkers (Maple Grove, Minn.) came on in relief in the bottom of the inning and worked around two walks to earn his second save of the season.
TOP HUSKIES
In the second game, Augustana jumped out to a 2-0 lead after a home run in the first inning and an RBI single in the second. Moreno scored on an error in the third, but then Augustana extended its lead to 4-1 with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. In the seventh inning, senior Ethan Navratil's (Albany, Minn.) single plated two runs to cut the lead to 4-3.
The Huskies had runners on first and second with two outs in the ninth inning when Jacobson singled to left, but redshirt freshman Jonathan Pribula (Plymouth, Minn.) was thrown out at the plate to end the game.
TOP HUSKIES
SCSU and Augustana will finish its series with a doubleheader on Tuesday beginning at 1:00 p.m. CT.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Baseball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
GAME 1 – SCSU 4, AUGIE 3
SCSU and Augie traded runs through four innings in game one. The Huskies took the first lead of the game in the second inning when junior Ethan Krueger (Wauwatosa, Wis.) scored on a sacrifice fly from redshirt junior Brayden Jacobson (West Fargo, N.D.), but then the Vikings tied it up in the third on an RBI single. SCSU retook the lead in the fourth when sophomore Wilmis Castro (San Juan, Puerto Rico) scored on a wild pitch, only for Augustana to take its first lead of the game in the fourth on a two-run home run.
SCSU got a strong start from its starter redshirt junior Cael Kolacia (Fort Dodge, Iowa), who left after six innings where he allowed three runs on four hits, and two walks with two strikeouts. He left the door open for a rally, and the Huskies took advantage in the seventh inning. An Augustana error allowed redshirt junior Liam Moreno (Sun Prairie, Wis.) to reach first, leading to a two-run home run from redshirt junior Eric Bello (Manati, Puerto Rico) to take a 4-3 lead.
Redshirt senior Frankie Volkers (Maple Grove, Minn.) came on in relief in the bottom of the inning and worked around two walks to earn his second save of the season.
TOP HUSKIES
- Bello – 1-2, HR, R, 2 BB
- Kolacia – W, 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 K
- Volkers – SV, 1.0 IP, 1 K
- SCSU earned its first win over Augustana since a 11-2 win on March 19, 2022 in Sioux Falls.
- Bello extended his hitting streak to three and hit his first home run as a Husky in the seventh inning. His two RBI matched a season high.
- Bello's five RBI this season currently leads the Huskies.
- Kolacia earned his first win of the season and fifth of his Husky career on the mound after his second consecutive quality start.
- Volkers finished off the win with his second save of the season, pitching a scoreless seventh inning with one strikeout.
- Jacobson recorded his first RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.
In the second game, Augustana jumped out to a 2-0 lead after a home run in the first inning and an RBI single in the second. Moreno scored on an error in the third, but then Augustana extended its lead to 4-1 with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. In the seventh inning, senior Ethan Navratil's (Albany, Minn.) single plated two runs to cut the lead to 4-3.
The Huskies had runners on first and second with two outs in the ninth inning when Jacobson singled to left, but redshirt freshman Jonathan Pribula (Plymouth, Minn.) was thrown out at the plate to end the game.
TOP HUSKIES
- Moreno – 3-5, 2B, 2 R
- Navratil – 2-5, 2 RBI
- Redshirt junior Brady Nelson (Oro Valley, Ariz.) – 3.2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 7 K
- Nelson was lights out in relief for the Huskies, striking out seven over 3.2 innings. His seven strikeouts are the most by a Husky pitcher this season.
- Moreno had a season-high three hits from the leadoff spot.
- Senior Blaine Guthrie (Emerald, Wis.) had two hits for his second multi-hit game of the season.
- Navratil had two RBI and now shares the team lead for RBI with five.
SCSU and Augustana will finish its series with a doubleheader on Tuesday beginning at 1:00 p.m. CT.
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: Kolacia, Cael (1-0)
L: Michek, Ashton (1-1)
S: Volkers, Frankie (2)
Batting:
2B: Krueger, Ethan 1
HR: Bello, Eric 1
RBI: Bello, Eric 2 ; Jacobson, Brayden 1
SF: Jacobson, Brayden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Moreno, Liam 1 ; Bello, Eric 1 ; Castro, Wilmis 1 ; Krueger, Ethan 1
Batting:
HR: Axelberg, Jason 1
RBI: Siegel, Sam 1 ; Axelberg, Jason 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Winterstein, Trevor 1 ; Koskie, Joshua 1 ; Axelberg, Jason 1
SB: Axelberg, Jason 1
HBP: Axelberg, Jason 1
Game Leaders
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RBI
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AB
4
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4
R
1
H
1
RBI
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Players Mentioned
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/ BaseballSt Cloud State Baseball Vs Southwest Minnesota State Game 4
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