Wednesday, April 23
Crookston, Minn.
1:30 P.M. CT
St. Cloud State
at
Minnesota Crookston
St. Cloud State Baseball Travels to Minnesota Crookston for Next Series
4/22/2025 2:15:00 PM | Baseball
Huskies and Golden Eagles to play doubleheader on April 23 in Crookston
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Baseball (20-20, 16-14 NSIC) will look to get back on track for its penultimate midweek series of the season when the Huskies travel to Crookston to face Minnesota Crookston (18-22, 15-15 NSIC) on Wednesday, April 23. The two teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 1:30 p.m. CT.
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
Game 1 vs. Minnesota Crookston (7 innings) – Wednesday, April 23 – 1:30 p.m. CT – Crookston, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston Baseball Field – Live Stream – Live Stats
Game 2 vs. Minnesota Crookston (9 innings) – Wednesday, April 23 – 3:30 p.m. CT – Crookston, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston Baseball Field – Live Stream – Live Stats
NSIC TOURNAMENT COMING SOON
With 10 games left in the regular season, the 2025 NSIC Baseball Tournament is fast approaching and the playoff position is beginning to take shape. SCSU is currently sitting in sixth place at 16-14 in NSIC play, but is only one game ahead of a three-way log jam behind it with Minnesota Duluth, Winona State and Minnesota Crookston all sitting at 15-15.
In conference play, SCSU has won or split seven of nine series, only dropping series to Minnesota State and Wayne State. With eight of its remaining 10 regular season games against teams at .500 or below overall, the Huskies have a good chance to hold onto a top-four seed heading into NSIC Tournament, scheduled for May 7-10 in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Huskies have finished fourth or better in the NSIC standings for 14 seasons dating back to 2010 (no conference games in 2020 due to pandemic).
NAV SAVING HIS BEST FOR LAST
Four-year starting first basemen senior Ethan Navratil (Albany, Minn.) will look to continue making his place in the St. Cloud State record book in his final collegiate season. The Husky senior is putting together a banner season, hitting a career-best .338 with seven home runs and 46 RBI while leading the team in home runs and RBI. Previously, Navratil had not hit better than .289, which he hit in his 2023 sophomore campaign. The Husky captain has already produced a 16-game hit streak, as he has hit safely in all but 10 games this season.
Among conference leaders, Navratil ranks fourth in RBI (46).
Navratil has already joined SCSU's career top-10 list in home runs and RBI, and will look to add his name to a few more categories before the season is over. His seventh long ball of the season was his 26th career home run moved him into sixth place on SCSU's all-time home run list, matching Michael Jurgella (2012-15). The Husky senior tallied two RBI in the series against Wayne State (April 18-19) to bring his career total to 149, which ranks seventh on SCSU's all-time list. He could also join the top-10 lists in games played (currently at 185, No. 10 at 188) and extra base hits (currently at 62, No. 10 at 70).
TOUGH ON THE MOUND
Redshirt junior Brady Nelson (Oro Valley, Ariz.) has anchored the Huskies' starting rotation, boasting a 5-0 record with a 4.30 ERA in seven starts and 10 appearances. Before moving into the rotation, Nelson has posted scoreless efforts in each of his three reliefs appearances, including a 3.2 inning outing against No. 5 Augustana on Feb. 24 where he struck out a season-high seven and allowed only one hit. In his seven starts, Nelson has earned the victory in four games, including a season-long 8.0 inning performance with a season-high two strikeouts in a no-decision against UMary on April 12.
Among conference leaders, Nelson ranks third in wins (five), ninth in ERA (4.30), seventh in home runs allowed (four), eighth in opposing batting average (.244) and 10th in innings pitched (46.0).
WEAPON OUT OF THE 'PEN
Redshirt senior Frankie Volkers (Maple Grove, Minn.) has been a key contributor out of the bullpen for the Huskies, posting eight saves and a 2-1 record with a 3.38 ERA in 29.1 innings pitched over 15 appearances. Volkers has been a strikeout machine, averaging 13.21 K/9 while holding opponents to a .226 batting average. The Husky senior's eight saves lead the NSIC and already rank as the second-most in a single season for a Husky, pulling even with Ryne Schwenke in 2011. The Husky senior's eight saves lead the NSIC and rank ninth nationally.
CONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT THE ORDER
SCSU's lineup has been extremely consistent up and down the order throughout the season, relying on different hitters at different times. Currently, SCSU boasts six hitters a batting average above .300 and five with a .900+ OPS.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Baseball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
Game 1 vs. Minnesota Crookston (7 innings) – Wednesday, April 23 – 1:30 p.m. CT – Crookston, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston Baseball Field – Live Stream – Live Stats
Game 2 vs. Minnesota Crookston (9 innings) – Wednesday, April 23 – 3:30 p.m. CT – Crookston, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston Baseball Field – Live Stream – Live Stats
NSIC TOURNAMENT COMING SOON
With 10 games left in the regular season, the 2025 NSIC Baseball Tournament is fast approaching and the playoff position is beginning to take shape. SCSU is currently sitting in sixth place at 16-14 in NSIC play, but is only one game ahead of a three-way log jam behind it with Minnesota Duluth, Winona State and Minnesota Crookston all sitting at 15-15.
In conference play, SCSU has won or split seven of nine series, only dropping series to Minnesota State and Wayne State. With eight of its remaining 10 regular season games against teams at .500 or below overall, the Huskies have a good chance to hold onto a top-four seed heading into NSIC Tournament, scheduled for May 7-10 in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Huskies have finished fourth or better in the NSIC standings for 14 seasons dating back to 2010 (no conference games in 2020 due to pandemic).
NAV SAVING HIS BEST FOR LAST
Four-year starting first basemen senior Ethan Navratil (Albany, Minn.) will look to continue making his place in the St. Cloud State record book in his final collegiate season. The Husky senior is putting together a banner season, hitting a career-best .338 with seven home runs and 46 RBI while leading the team in home runs and RBI. Previously, Navratil had not hit better than .289, which he hit in his 2023 sophomore campaign. The Husky captain has already produced a 16-game hit streak, as he has hit safely in all but 10 games this season.
Among conference leaders, Navratil ranks fourth in RBI (46).
Navratil has already joined SCSU's career top-10 list in home runs and RBI, and will look to add his name to a few more categories before the season is over. His seventh long ball of the season was his 26th career home run moved him into sixth place on SCSU's all-time home run list, matching Michael Jurgella (2012-15). The Husky senior tallied two RBI in the series against Wayne State (April 18-19) to bring his career total to 149, which ranks seventh on SCSU's all-time list. He could also join the top-10 lists in games played (currently at 185, No. 10 at 188) and extra base hits (currently at 62, No. 10 at 70).
TOUGH ON THE MOUND
Redshirt junior Brady Nelson (Oro Valley, Ariz.) has anchored the Huskies' starting rotation, boasting a 5-0 record with a 4.30 ERA in seven starts and 10 appearances. Before moving into the rotation, Nelson has posted scoreless efforts in each of his three reliefs appearances, including a 3.2 inning outing against No. 5 Augustana on Feb. 24 where he struck out a season-high seven and allowed only one hit. In his seven starts, Nelson has earned the victory in four games, including a season-long 8.0 inning performance with a season-high two strikeouts in a no-decision against UMary on April 12.
Among conference leaders, Nelson ranks third in wins (five), ninth in ERA (4.30), seventh in home runs allowed (four), eighth in opposing batting average (.244) and 10th in innings pitched (46.0).
WEAPON OUT OF THE 'PEN
Redshirt senior Frankie Volkers (Maple Grove, Minn.) has been a key contributor out of the bullpen for the Huskies, posting eight saves and a 2-1 record with a 3.38 ERA in 29.1 innings pitched over 15 appearances. Volkers has been a strikeout machine, averaging 13.21 K/9 while holding opponents to a .226 batting average. The Husky senior's eight saves lead the NSIC and already rank as the second-most in a single season for a Husky, pulling even with Ryne Schwenke in 2011. The Husky senior's eight saves lead the NSIC and rank ninth nationally.
CONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT THE ORDER
SCSU's lineup has been extremely consistent up and down the order throughout the season, relying on different hitters at different times. Currently, SCSU boasts six hitters a batting average above .300 and five with a .900+ OPS.
- Liam Moreno: .340/.445/.551, .996 OPS, 6 HR, 27 RBI, 13 2B, 42 R, 12 SB
- Ethan Navratil: .338/.414/.524, .938 OPS, 7 HR, 46 RBI, 6 2B, 27 R
- Taehyung Kim: .333/.446/.467, .913 OPS, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 7 2B, 19 R
- Blaine Guthrie: .330/.475/.472, .947 OPS, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 7 2B, 25 BB, 23 R
- Wyatt Tweet: .328/.413/.463, .876 OPS, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 10 2B, 27 R
- Wilmis Castro: .320/.399/.544, .943 OPS, 7 HR, 32 RBI, 12 2B, 30 R
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Baseball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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