SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Jonah Prokott set the tone on the hill and Ricky Apodaca and Brent Riddle provided some big swings at the plate as the Minot State baseball team rallied in the nightcap of its NSIC doubleheader for a 9-3 win over Sioux Falls.
The win gave the Beavers (10-23 overall, 7-16 NSIC) a split on the day as the Cougars (20-14, 13-11) took the opener, 8-3. The two teams play a single game Sunday at noon in Sioux Falls to wrap up their weekend series.
GAME 1 | Sioux Falls 8, Minot State 3
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Senior Craig Schmich was mowing people down on Saturday, striking out eight Sioux Falls hitters over five innings of work, but it was not enough as the Minot State Beavers fell to the Cougars 8-3.
In addition to his eight strikeouts, Schmich (2-6) went five innings, giving up seven runs, all of them earned, on nine hits and walking none for Minot State. Freshman Conner Meldrim also made an impact on the mound for the Beavers, throwing one inning, giving up one run on no hits, with one walk and one strikeout.
In the batter's box, the Beavers were paced by senior Ricky Apodaca, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a home run, a walk and an RBI. Sophomore Noah Madas compiled a standout effort as well, going 1-for-3 with two RBI. Junior Brent Riddle also helped out for Minot State, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a double.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 4-0, the Beavers first put runs on the board in the fourth inning. Minot State scored twice in the inning, including one on a solo shot from Apodaca.
The Beavers deficit grew to 7-2 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, cutting into that deficit in the sixth inning. Apodaca came across to score the lone run of the inning for Minot State on a Noah Madas RBI ground ball, which brought the score to 7-3 in favor of the Cougars. The Beavers were unable to get any closer, as Sioux Falls added one run to their tally on the way to an 8-3 final.
GAME NOTES
» Schmich fanned eight Cougars hitters.
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed two runs across.
» Minot State pitchers faced 29 Sioux Falls hitters in the game, allowing one ground ball and seven fly balls while striking out nine.
» The Beavers drew four walks from Sioux Falls pitching.
» Apodaca led the Beavers at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
» Sioux Falls was led offensively by junior Ben Serie, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
» Senior Garrett Oswald led the Cougars pitching staff, throwing one shutout inning.
GAME 2 | Minot State 9, Sioux Falls 3
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Minot State Beavers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and never surrendered the advantage on the way to a 9-3 victory over the Sioux Falls Cougars on Saturday.
Sophomore Jonah Prokott (2-1) started on the mound and picked up the win for Minot State. The right-hander went five shutout innings while giving up four hits, allowing no walks and striking out three. Senior Cameron Bagshaw also made an impact on the mound for the Beavers, throwing 2.2 shutout innings while allowing two hits, with no walks and two strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Minot State got on the board thanks to senior Mark Ossanna's RBI double with two outs.
The Cougars failed to push any runs across before the Beavers built on their lead in the fourth inning. The Minot State offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of senior Ricky Apodaca, which brought the score to 5-0 in favor of the Beavers.
Sioux Falls narrowed Minot State's lead to 5-3 before the Beavers stretched the advantage to 6-3 in the seventh inning. The Beavers scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Ossanna.
Minot State held the Cougars scoreless before expanding their lead in the ninth inning. The inning resulted in three runs for the Beavers, all of them scoring on a three-run homer off the bat of junior Brent Riddle to left, bringing the score to 9-3 in favor of Minot State. The score remained 9-3 for the rest of the game, as the Beavers coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed four runs across.
» Minot State took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Beavers out-hit the Cougars at an 11-9 clip.
» Junior Grant Gabbert stole two bases in Saturday's game.
» Minot State went 5-for-15 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers limited Sioux Falls to just 1-for-16 (.063) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers faced 41 Sioux Falls hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out six.
» The Beavers drew six walks from Sioux Falls pitching.
» Riddle led the Beavers at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI.
» Sioux Falls was led offensively by junior Ryan Gouldin, who went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
» Sophomore Mason Leonard led the Cougars pitching staff, throwing 3.1 innings of one-run ball.
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