Aberdeen, SD (NSUWolves.com) – The Northern State University baseball team suffered two tough losses Friday against Sioux Falls, falling 2-1 in game one and 11-5 in game two. Game one featured a pitcher’s duel, with both starters going deep into the game and each recording five or more strikeouts. However, the Cougars seized control early, securing their victory in the second inning. Game two was a hard-fought contest, with the Wolves battling back after trailing for most of the game, but an early deficit proved too much to overcome.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 1, USF 2
Final Score Game 2: NSU 5, USF 11
Records: NSU 5-18 (NSIC 1-15) USF 12-18 (NSIC 8-8)
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 1
- After a scoreless first inning, Sioux Falls kicked off the day with two runs in the second off of a double
- In the bottom of the seventh, Casey Vining started the inning with a leadoff double to right field
- Northern State cut the lead in half in the seventh inning off of a fielder’s choice that scored Vining
- NSU tallied one run off of five hits and had one error in game one
- Braxton Kusler recorded the loss in 4.1 innings pitched with five strikeouts
NORTHERN STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Jack Weidner: 1-for-2, 1 double, 1 walk
- Casey Vining: 1-for-3, 1 double, 1 run
- Braxton Kusler: 4.1 IP, 5 strikeouts
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 2
- Sioux Falls started game two with one run in the top of the first off of a double
- Northern State responded as Jack Weidner singled to center field and scored Brennan Phillips
- After a scoreless inning, the Cougars took the lead with four runs in the third inning
- USF extended their lead in the fifth inning with three more runs to lead by seven
- In the bottom of the fifth, Phillips drove the ball down the right field line for a double that scored Kyle Konechne
- Nick Friedges followed up with a two-run homerun that scored Phillips and himself to cut the lead in half
- In the top of the seventh, the Cougars added two runs to lead 10-4
- On a wild pitch, Phillips scored in the bottom of the seventh to trail by five
- USF recorded one run in the top of the ninth off of a double to lead by six
- NSU tallied five runs off of seven hits with two errors in game two.
- Drew Burkholder recorded the loss in 5.0 innings pitched with seven strikeouts
NORTHERN STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Brennan Phillips: 2-for-4, 3 runs, 1RBI, 1 double
- Nick Friedges: 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, 1 run, 1 home run
- Jack Weidner: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 walk
- Drew Burkholder: 5.0 IP, 5 strikeouts
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