For Immediate Release
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
NSIC Media Relations
Full PDF Release

#35 Travis Evanson
1B,  Junior.,
 Lakeville, Minn.
Lakeville North  HS
Winona State


NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#20 Kyle Fischer
RHP, 6-3, 185, Sr., R/R
New Ulm, Minn.
New Ulm HS
St. Cloud State


NSIC Baseball Team Notes
Augustana
#13 Alex Fink (1B, 6-2, 200, So., Springfield, Minn. / Springfield HS) really had it going for the Vikings this past week, helping guide Augustana to a 6-0 record. Fink went 2 for 4 with three RBI and one run scored in both games on Saturday against Minnesota Crookston. The Springfield, Minn. native then went 1 for 2 and scored two runs in a 7-0 Vikings win in game one of a doubleheader on Sunday. In game two Fink really stood out, getting a career-high four hits in a 4 for 4 performance that included a tying a season high with four RBI and scoring a season-high three runs. For the week, Fink had .454 batting average (10 of 22), 10 RBI, eight runs, one home run and one stolen base.
#16 Tony Viger (3B, 6-2, 215, Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D. / O’Gorman HS) continued his great play with a big week. In game one against Winona State last Wednesday, Viger went 3 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored. The senior from Sioux Falls, S.D. then went 2 for 4 while driving a run in and scoring one himself in game two of the doubleheader against the Warriors. Viger kept his hot bat going through the weekend, going 1 for 3 with one RBI and a run in the first game against Minnesota Crookston on Saturday. He followed that up with a perfect 4 for 4 game which included one RBI and three runs scored. On Sunday, Viger went 1 for 3 and scored two runs in game one against the Golden Eagles. Viger finished the four-game series in style on Sunday, going 3 for 4 in game two of the twin bill. All three hits were doubles, pushing his total to 17 on the year. The former O’Gorman High School standout also had a season-high four RBI and scored three runs in the win. For the week, Viger hit a ridiculous .636 at the plate (14 of 22), drove in nine runs, scored 12 runs, had three stolen bases, and seven of his 14 hits were extra-base hits (six doubles, one triple).
#4 Tyson Gau (RHP, 6-1, 190, Sr., Alexandria, S.D. / Hanson HS) made history by becoming the all-time wins leader in Augustana history after pickup two wins this past week. Gau tied the old record after recording his second win of the year -20th of his career- in game one against Winona State on Wednesday. Gau went four innings, giving up just one run on four hits while striking out three. The Alexandria, S.D. natives history-making moment came on Sunday in game one of the doubleheader against Minnesota Crookston. Gau recorded a complete game shutout victory to give him career win number 21, a new school record, pitching all seven innings giving up just three hits while notching a season-high seven strikeouts.

Bemidji State
#5 Joey Hanowski (INF/OF, 5-10, 181, So., L/R, Little Falls, Minn. / Little Falls HS) posted a .417 batting average after going 5-for-12 with a run and an RBI to help guide the Beavers to a 3-1 week March 25-30. He drew three walks and stole a base. The sophomore recorded a .533 on-base percentage and a .500 slugging percentage. In the field, Hanowski totaled five assists, one putout and an error playing third base for a .857 percentage. He totaled two hits in back-to-back contests.
#8 Nate Heisick (LHP, 6-1, 185, RS-So., L/L, Plymouth, Minn. / Wayzata HS) went 2-0 and posted a 0.00 ERA in 4.1 relief innings between March 25-30. He faced 19 batters and allowed one unearned run on just two hits (.133 opposing batting average). The sophomore recorded four strikeouts and walked three. Against Kansas Wesleyan March 25, Heisick pitched two innings and allowed two hits with one strikeout. In a conference win against Upper Iowa March 30, he pitched 2.1 innings and didn’t allow a hit with three strikeouts.
The Beavers went 3-1 between March 25-30 to improve to 7-8. BSU went 2-0 in a doubleheader at Kansas Wesleyan March 25 with 4-1 and 4-3 (8) victories. Bemidji State went 1-1 in its NSIC opener at Upper Iowa March 30 after the March 29 doubleheader was canceled due to wet field conditions. The Beavers lost game one 5-2, but rebounded for a 4-3 victory in game two. The second game ended in the eighth due to darkness. BSU continues NSIC play April 2 at Augustana with first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Concordia-St. Paul
#51 John Hayes (RHP, 6-3, 200, Sr., Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville North HS) produced a big pitching line in a major early season spot for the Golden Bears. After the team dropped the first three games of the series against #15 St. Cloud State, Hayes stepped up by throwing 8.0 innings while only allowing one unearned run while scattering six singles against the top hitting team in the country entering the weekend. He won the game to stop Concordia’s three game slide to even the team’s record at 3-3 in league play.
Senior Brooks Beilke was the only hitter to get a hit in every game of the four game series against the strong pitching of St. Cloud state as he went 4-11 with two walks and a .462 OBP on the weekend … junior Kyle Dalton also hit well, going 4-12 (.333) at the plate while scoring two of Concordia’s three runs … the four game series featured a combined five extra base hits between the two teams in 232 total at bats … all four of Concordia’s starters turned in solid performances on the mound, allowing two earned runs or less in all four games leading to a 1.80 earned run average as a rotation against the top hitting team in the country entering the weekend … Concordia’s bullpen also picked up two nice outings from sophomore Yuji Suzuki and senior Colton Petron … Suzuki went 2.0 scoreless in game three without allowing a hit or walk while Petron worked a 1-2-3 ninth in Concordia’s game four 2-1 win for his first save of the year … in 6.1 innings, Petron has yet to allow a hit and has only walked one with eight strikeouts in four relief appearances on the year … Concordia’s pitching staff as a whole produced a 3.38 team ERA.

University of Mary
Austin Grundstad (2B, Sr., 5-10, 160, L/R/Williston, N.D. / Williston) posted a strong week offensively for the University of Mary, hitting .400 (10-of-25) with a .444 on-base percentage while slugging .520. The Marauders lead-off hitter scored six times, drove in five runs, hit three doubles and stole two bases in two attempts. In Sunday’s doubleheader against Winona State, Grundstad was 6-for-9 with four runs scored, four RBIs and three doubles. He led the Marauders to a 15-13 win in the opener by going 4-for-5 with a walk, three doubles, four RBI and three runs scored... Sam Ingemansen (Bismarck, N.D.) had a tremendous week behind the dish. The senior catcher threw out nine of 15 base runners who attempted to steal on him. During one stretch he eliminated six straight base runners... In back to back games against Winona State, the Marauders produced 34 hits. U-Mary pounded out 19 hits in a 14-9 loss before adding 15 more in a 15-13 win... After a midweek road trip to Wayne State College, the Marauders are scheduled to play their next 14 games at home (seven doubleheaders).

Minnesota  Crookston
The University of Minnesota Crookston played a four-game series against Augustana College (S.D.) over the weekend. UMC was led by Ryan Haggstrom, who hit .285 on the weekend with one run scored and one RBI. In addition,
The Golden Eagles were scheduled for mid-week game against University of North Dakota but that has been postponed. Minnesota Crookston will face-off with Northern State University April 5-6 in Aberdeen, S.D.

Minnesota Duluth
UMD suffered a major setback as Minnesota State swept the Bulldogs in a four-game set on Sunday and Monday in Mauston, Wis. MSU had luck, and late-game heroics on its side as it took four close games from the Bulldogs.
Sophomore first baseman Alex Wojciechowski and freshman right fielder Matt Vogt continued to lead the UMD offense. Wojciechowski batted .375/.412/.375 with six singles, four runs batted in, and four runs scored. Vogt had three doubles, hitting .333/.333/.533 (5-for-15), while driving in four and scoring a run. The Bulldogs had 32 hits, while allowing 34, and hit .248/.295/.310 as a squad. Also notable was senior Cody Aasen’s three-run home run as part of a six-run comeback that fell just short in game four.
Pitchers Bo Hellquist (So.) and Wes Mleziva (Jr.) continue to be the unlucky recipients of a lack of offense, each allowing three runs in their starts but combining to strike out 12 in 13 innings and allowing just 13 baserunners. Mleziva remains without a win on the season despite posting a 3.05 ERA in 20.2 innings in his first season with UMD. The bullpen combined for seven innings, allowing six runs on 11 hits, though six Bulldog relievers got out of the weekend with a spotless ERA in 5.0 combined innings.
UMD is set to take on Concordia-St. Paul and SMSU this week.

Minnesota State
#4 Minnesota State (19-4) stretched its winning streak to six games with a four-game sweep of visiting Minnesota Duluth in a Sunday-Monday series played at the Woodside Sports Complex in Mauston, Wis. The Mavericks used a three-run home run from senior Stetson Olson in the bottom of the fifth inning and a complete-game shutout by senior righthander Jason Hoppe to secure a 3-0 victory in game one last Sunday. Hoppe improved to 6-0 after striking out seven and scattering four hits. MSU found itself in a 5-3 deficit entering the bottom of the eighth in the second affair but exploded for five runs in the inning as sophomore Taylor Branstad drove in what would be the game-winning run with a two-run single. Freshman Trevor Patterson recorded his first career win as a Maverick, while senior Chris Williams notched his fourth save. The Purple and Gold claimed a 3-1 victory in the first game last Monday as senior righthander T.J. Larson struck out a season-high 10 batters and allowed just one earned run over 6.0 innings to improve to 3-1 overall. RBI doubles by junior Connor McCallum and senior Parker Sullivan provided all the offense MSU needed in the win. The second contests saw the Mavericks open a 7-1 lead through four innings only to have Minnesota Duluth tie the game at 7-7 with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth. In the bottom half, Olson picked up his sixth RBI of the weekend plating Sullivan from third for the eventual game-winner as junior Matt Geislinger earned his first career win at Minnesota State. MSU is scheduled to continue conference action this Wednesday at Upper Iowa beginning at 1:30 p.m., before heading to Sioux Falls for a four-game series with Augustana this Saturday and Sunday.
Stetson Olson (Sr., 1B, 6-2, 210, Renton, Wash./Washington State) factored on over a third of MSU’s 22 runs this past weekend versus UMD going 4-of-13 (.308) with a pair of home runs and four runs scored along with a team-high six RBI and 10 total bases for a .769 slugging percentage.  Olson leads the Mavericks in home runs (4), RBI (20), runs (24), total bases (43), on-base percentage (.464) and slugging percentage (.544) this season while ranking second in the NSIC in home runs, fifth in runs, sixth in RBI and eighth in total bases.
Jason Hoppe (Sr., RHP, 6-1, 180, Rice, Minn./Sauk Rapids) moved to 6-0 by firing his second consecutive complete-game and first shutout of the season in MSU’s 3-0 series-opening win over UMD last Sunday. Hoppe struck out seven in the affair and limited the Bulldogs to a .154 batting average across seven scoreless innings. The All-American leads the NSIC in innings pitched (39.2), strikeouts (46) and wins (6) while ranking 10th in ERA (2.50) and opponent batting average (.217).

Minot State
Minot State opened up the conference portion of their 2014 schedule this past weekend as they faced off against Northern Sun foe Sioux Falls in a four game series. The games were played in Sioux City, Neb. due to poor field conditions in Sioux Falls. The Beavers and Cougars split the four games, two wins apiece with each team winning one game on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. After being shut down and shut out,5-0, by USF’s Derek Fischer in game one, Minot State bounced back with clutch hitting and pitching to capture a 8-2 win in game two. Brock McCashland (Jr., P, Odgen, Utah) pitched his most efficient game of the season as he went eight innings, allowing just three hits and one run to pick up his second consecutive win during his junior year. McCashland received run support early and often, in the win as A.J. Begay (Sr., 3B, Salt Lake City, Utah) hit a first inning three-run home run to give MISU a fast lead that they would never surrender. Begay led the Beavers with four RBI in the game. Leading 4-1 entering the top of the eighth, Minot State was looking for insurance runs; they got them. Sean Arbaut (Sr., Inf., Tehachapi, Calif.) led off the inning with a home run to left center field, his first of the season, to push the Beaver lead to four runs. MISU added three more runs in the last two innings as Connor Moughtin (Sr., C, Victoria, British Columbia), Begay and Nicholas Hammerl (Jr., Inf., West Peoria, Ill.) each picked up RBI hits to seal the Beavers seventh win of the season. The Beavers (8-9 Overall, 2-2 NSIC) won the first game of the Sunday twin bill as they defeated the Cougars (12-9 Overall, 6-2 NSIC) 8-7 before falling to USF, 7-5, in the series finale. After hitting two home runs in Saturday’s win over the Cougars, MISU used the same recipe for success in Sunday’s first game as they hit four home runs in the win. The Beavers, who hit just two home runs in 38 games during the 2013 season, have already hit an NSIC leading 14 round trippers through 17 games this season. Arbaut, Hammerl, Conner Oliver (Jr., OF/P, Dayton, Nev.) and Paul Vogelsang (R-Fr., C, Regina, Saskatchewan) all hit homers in the win for the Beavers. Vogelsang ranks second in the NSIC with four home runs on the year in just 30 at bats. Minot State collected 13 hits in the win led by Vogelsang and Andrew Roach (Jr., OF, Gilbert, Ariz.) who each had three hits and one RBI. Starting Pitcher Jesse Goertzen (So., P, Steinbach, Manitoba) picked up the win on the mound going six strong innings, giving up three earned runs and five hits. In the series finale, USF jumped out to a 7-0 lead over the Beavers and never surrendered as they held off a 5-0 run by MISU in the late innings. Minot State was originally schedule to face Montana State University-Billings on Tuesday April 1 in a non-conference doubleheader in Miles City, Mont. Those games have been canceled and will not be rescheduled. The Beavers’ next games will be this weekend as they are set to host St. Cloud State in an NSIC four game series in Minot.

Northern State
Cody Johns (Jr., Naches, Wash.) pitched eight innings, allowed one earned run and struck-out five batters in Northern’s 6-4 win Sunday over Wayne State. The win improved Johns to 2-2 on the season and lowers his ERA to a team-leading 2.51.
Matt Stubbs (Jr., Rochester, Minn.) went 4-for-9 (.444) over the weekend for the Wolves in their 2-2 split with Wayne State. Stubbs recorded a team-high five RBI and five runs scored over the weekend. Stubbs also had a .709 on-base percentage against the Wildcats as he also drew seven walks in the four games.

Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls (12-9, 6-2 NSIC) split a four-game series with Minot State this past weekend at Voss Field in South Sioux City, Neb. The Cougars won games one (5-0) and four (7-5) but dropped games two (8-2) and three (8-7) to the Beavers. Game one belonged to Derek Fischer, as the veteran Sioux Falls right-hander tossed a two-hit shutout and Jeremy Varner had two hits to lead the Cougars to a 5-0 win. Things didn’t go nearly as well for USF in game two, as A.J. Begay hit a three-run homer in the first inning off of Cougar starter Noah Coleman to lift the Beavers to an 8-2 wire-to-wire victory. Coleman (1-2) allowed six runs on six hits in seven innings with one walk and no strikeouts. Jeremy Varner tossed two innings of relief and gave up two runs on five hits while fanning four batters. Game three was a roller coaster of offense; USF trailed 2-0 after Sean Arbaut smacked a two-run homer in the top of the second, then countered in the home half of the frame with a Gunner Peterson two-run triple to tie the game. The two teams traded runs in the third inning before MISU did more damage with the long ball in the fourth, belting two solo shots for a 5-3 advantage. MISU tacked on a run in the fifth with the help of a Cougar fielding hiccup before Conner Oliver blasted a long bomb to right field that bounced off the scoreboard and ran the Beavers’ lead out to 7-3 with five and a half innings in the book.  Trailing 8-5 in the bottom of the seventh, the Cougars made a strong push at a comeback when Ryan Fobes drew a lead-off walk before Jeremy Varner launched a two-run blast with one out to make it an 8-7 game and chase MISU reliever Doug Rolfson. The rally would fall short, as MISU righty Austin Zorn came in to record the final two outs of the game, collecting his first save in his ninth appearance of the year. In the series finale, senior Ryan Fobes had a three-run homer to back a solid outing by Henry Ojeda and the Cougars held on for a 7-5 win in game two to split the four-game series with the Beavers.
Ojeda scattered two runs on six hits in six innings to even his pitching record at 3-3. The San Diego native walked four and struck out one. The Cougars knocked out 10 hits in the nightcap and were paced by Fobes (1-for-3, three-run homer), Durkin (2-for-4, RBI) and Downs (2-for-3, two runs scored). USF is scheduled to host Northern State on Wednesday afternoon at Harmodon Park.
#29 Derek Fischer (RHP, 6-2,  210,  Sr., R/R, Brandon, S.D. / Brandon Valley HS)  notched a pair of dominating performances against Minot State, earning a win and his first save of the year to help USF split a four-game series with the Beavers. Game one belonged to Fischer, as he tossed a two-hit shutout to lead USF to a 5-0 win over MISU. It was the second complete game victory of the season for Fischer (4-1), who carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning before Tyler Stevenson hit a two-out line drive to center.  Fischer struck out three, walked one and hit a batter in the 88-pitch gem. He rolled through the first three innings on 46 pitches and got stronger as the game went along. He needed just a combined 14 pitches to retire the Beavers in the sixth and seventh innings. Then in the series finale on Sunday afternoon, the righty was summoned to clean up a mess in the bottom of the ninth after the Beavers sliced a 7-0 deficit to 7-5 and had the game-tying run at the plate with two outs. Fischer took the mound and sent the final batter down swinging of five pitches to seal the win and record his first save of the 2014 season. Fischer extended his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 18. His strong effort last weekend also lowered his season ERA to 1.25, which ranks him fourth in the NSIC, while opposing hitters are batting just .244 against the former Brandon Valley HS standout. Fischer has notched 26 strikeouts in seven appearances (five starts), while issuing only six base on balls in 36 innings, the third-highest workload in the conference.
 
SMSU
The SMSU University baseball team was idle this past week and is currently 10-0 overall, 1-3 in the NSIC. The Mustangs are scheduled to resume NSIC play this Wednesday versus St. Cloud State and this weekend versus Minnesota Duluth.

St. Cloud State
Kyle Fischer (Sr., New Ulm, Minn.) had a great game against the Golden Bears on Saturday in game one pitching a complete seven-inning shutout on the mound. Fischer allowed only two hits and struck out nine batters in the game. Fischer moves his record to 4-1 on the season with the win. He holds a 2.13 earned run average in six appearances and 38 total innings so far this season.
Eric Loxtercamp (Jr., Cold Spring, Minn.) started in all four games this weekend for the Huskies as he went 8-for-17 at the plate including one double and tallied four runs and three RBI. Loxtercamp was perfect in the field posting eight total putouts. He led the team in game one on Saturday (Mar 29) going 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI and followed it up in game two going 3-for-6 with three runs and one stolen base. On the season, Loxtercamp is batting .407 and has started in all 21 games for the Huskies.
St. Cloud State baseball was on the road this weekend for two doubleheader series against Concordia-St. Paul in their second weekend of NSIC play. The Huskies shutout the Golden Bears in both games on Saturday with final score of 5-0 and 11-0. With St. Cloud’s first win head coach Pat Dolan earned his 500th career win. Sunday the teams split as St. Cloud took game one 4-1 and Concordia took the second game 2-1. Leading the Huskies at the plate in game one Saturday, was Eric Loxtercamp as he went 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Pitching a complete seven-inning game on the mound for St. Cloud was senior Kyle Fischer as he allowed only two hits and struck out nine. Fischer moves his record to 4-1 on the season with the win. Game two, the Huskies started right away taking a 1-0 lead as Michael Jurgella hit a two-out solo home run over the left field fence. The Huskies really got the bats going in the seventh extending their lead 6-0. They would continue moving their lead as they recorded three runs in the eighth and two in the ninth for a final score of 11-0. Brandon Arnold had the big hit of the eighth with a two-RBI triple down the left field line. On the mound pitching all nine innings for the Huskies in game two (Saturday) was Corey Fitzgerald allowing only five hits and struck out five. With the win Fitzgerald moves his season record to a perfect 3-0. The Huskies ended the game recording a total 21 hits. On Sunday (Mar. 30) the Huskies battled hard as they started game one trailing 1-0 but were able to get scoring started in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-1 lead over Concordia. With three errors by Concordia, the Huskies took advantage loading the bases and then Eric Loxtercamp hit a two RBI double to center field for a 2-1 game but another error on the Golden Bears would make it a 3-1 game scoring Kyle Lieser. SCSU sealed a 4-1 victory in the top of the sixth inning to take game one. Earning the start and pitcher of record in game one was Chris Kubitz as he pitched five innings and struck out four. Reese Gregory came in as relief to pitch two innings and earn the save for his third of the season. Kubitz is now 3-0 on the season with the win. In game two the teams traded runs in the second keeping a tie game, 1-1. Both teams would only average one hit an inning until the bottom of the eighth when Concordia took a 2-1 lead and held on. Leading St. Cloud at the plate was Sam Boisner going 2-for-3. Starting on the mound in game two for the Huskies was Garrett Harrison as he pitched 5.2 innings and struck out four, while Reese Gregory pitched the final 2.1 innings with four strikeouts. Gregory was the pitcher of record, which moves his record to 4-1 on the season. The Huskies (16-5, 5-2 NSIC) are scheduled to host their first home game against SMSU on Wednesday, April 2 with the doubleheader getting started at 1:30 p.m.

Upper Iowa
Martin Valdez (LHP, 5-7, 170, Sr., Baldwin Park, Cal., East Los Angeles College) earned his first victory of the season with a complete game, six-hitter against Bemidji State University.  Valdez allowed two runs on three hits in the first inning, but retired 15 batters straight as the Beavers were held hitless from the second inning into the sixth inning.  In the end, the southpaw gave up six hits while striking out three and walking none in his seven innings of work.
Tyler Adams (CF, 6-2, 189, Sr., Onalaska, Wis., Onalaska HS) continued the great start to his senior campaign raising his already stellar average another three points to .552 thanks to his .571 average over the weekend.  The Peacock centerfielder had 4 hits in 7 at bats including a pair of homeruns and a double for a slugging percentage of 1.571.  Adams scored twice while driving in four runs and collecting 11 total bases.
The frost came up on Robertson Woods Field and caused havoc with the scheduled four-game series between the Peacocks and Bemidji State University Beavers.  Saturday’s double header was cancelled after teams tried to wait out the field conditions all day and Sunday’s action was delayed three hours, but UIU and BSU managed to get the double header in losing just one inning of the final came to darkness.  The Peacocks won game one 5-2 behind Martin Valdez’s first complete game victory of the season and a two-run homer from Tyler Adams that broke a 2-2 tie.  In the second game, another Adams long ball tied the game at 2-2, but Bemidji State earned a bases-loaded walk and picked up an insurance run to hold on for a 4-3 victory in 8 innings.  UIU had two runners in scoring position with one out in the eighth, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the comeback threat.  Jose Aguirre also hit well at the plate going 3-4 with three walks for an on-base percentage of .857 on the day.  Aguirre scored once and drove in two runs on the day.  Mason Buster took the loss in game two allowing three runs on five hits in his 5.1 innings of relief.  Upper Iowa will welcome the #4 Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato on Wednesday at 1 p.m. on Robertson Woods Field.

Wayne State
Aaron Molinaro, a 5-11 195 pound senior outfielder/designated hitter from Lincoln, Nebraska, hit a team-best .538 during the week going 7 for 13 at the plate with one double, one home run and six RBI’s.  He had two multi-hit games in a four-game series vs. Northern State over the weekend, going 3 for 4 with a homer, double and three RBI’s in Saturday’s 13-6 win over the Wolves.  Molinaro was 1 for 3 with two RBI’s in a 6-3 Sunday loss to the Wolves and was 2 for 4 in the second game Sunday, a 6-4 loss.
Matt Russell, a 5-10 180 pound junior righthander from Nebraska City, Nebraska, tossed six shutout innings, allowing just three hits with six strikeouts and one walk, in the Wildcats’ 14-3 win over Northern State on Saturday.  Russell was making just his second start of the year and seventh appearance this season for the Wildcats.

Winona State
Travis Evanson, Jr., 1B, Lakeville, Minn. (Lakeville North) had a monster week for the Warriors, batting .526 with four home runs and 13 RBI in six games. Evanson tied a WSU single-game record with three home runs in the opening game of a doubleheader with U-Mary on Sunday and added another home run in game two as the Warriors took three of four games from the Marauders. Evanson was 10-of-19 at the plate, scoring eight runs on the week. He posted a .583 on-base percentage while slugging 1.211. The junior began the week by going 3-of-6 against Augustana before exploding against U-Mary. He was 2-of-7 with two RBI in the team’s opening doubleheader Saturday before going 5-of-6 with four home runs and 11 RBI on Sunday.
Chase Blazier, Jr., P, Harvard, Ill. (Harvard) earned a victory over U-Mary this weekend, allowing just three hits and one earned run over six innings of work. The junior struck out five to move his record to 2-2 on the season.

Past NSIC Players of the Week
2/4/14
Player: Marcus O’Neill - Augsutana
Pitcher: Ryan Hamilton   - Augustana
2/11/14
Player: Nolan Johnson - Minnesota State
Pitcher: Jason Hoppe - Minnesota State
2/18/14
Player: Jon Ellis - SMSU
Pitcher: Derek Fischer - Sioux Falls
2/25/14
Player: Max Waletich - Minnesota State
Pitcher: Austin Berntson - Minot State
3/3/14
Player: Zach Hoffmann - St. Cloud State
Pitcher: Chris Kubitz - St. Cloud State
3/10/14
Player: Zach Braun - Bemidji State
Pitcher: Taylor Nawrocki - Minnesota State
3/17/14
Player: Eric Loxtercamp - St. Cloud State
Pitcher: Joe Alexson, SMSU
3/25/14
Player: Alex Fink - Augustana
Pitcher: Eric Browning - Wayne State
4/1/14
Player:  Travis Evanson - Winona State
Pitcher:  Kyle Fischer - St. Cloud State