For Immediate Release
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
NSIC Media Relations

NSIC Baseball Players of the Week

NSIC Player of the Week
#18 Patrick O’Donnell
(OF, 5-9, 186, R/R, Andover, Minn. / Andover HS)
Augustana
- Hit .688 in four starts for the Vikings against Bemidji State
- In 16 at-bats he posted 11 hits, three doubles and two home runs
- Hit home runs in back-to-back games
- Drove in a team best seven RBI
- Had a slugging percentage of 1.250
- Had a .706 on-base percentage
- Was perfect in the field with a 1.000 fielding percentage with seven putouts
- Had two games with four hits
- Had 20 total bases on the weekend
- Was 1-for-1 in stolen bases

NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#14 Gus Varland
(RHP, 6-1, 190, So., L/R, Maplewood, Minn. / North St. Paul HS)
Concordia-St. Paul
- Threw the first no-hitter in recorded program history while striking out 14 in 7.0 innings in a 6-1 win over SMSU
- Didn’t allow a baserunner in six of the seven innings, including retiring the first 15 hitters of the game to carry a perfect game into the sixth
- His 14 strikeouts were the most for CSP since 2009, falling just two shy of Jake Schmidt’s record of 16
- Dating back to May 1, 2016, Varland is 4-1 with a 1.69 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 42.2 IP, including a 3-1 mark with 35 strikeouts in 25.0 IP this season
 

Augustana University Vikings

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
3-1 vs BSU	9-10, 3-1 NSIC	W1	3rd Overall
Team Notes
- The Viking's bats came alive in their 3-1 series win over Bemidji State - On the weekend the Vikings hit six home runs as a team - The team hit .344 with a slugging percentage of .547 - The Pitching staff had a weekend ERA of just 1.74 with 32 strikeouts and 12 walks
Top Performer(s)
- Patrick O’Donnell led the team with a .668 batting average in four games - He hit two home runs and three doubles with seven RBI - He had a team best 1.250 slugging percentage - He had a three game home run streak going into Sunday - Derek Dahlke hit his first two career home runs and hit .400 on the weekend - Kris Ashland hit well over .600 in 3 starts with a home run and three runs scored - Jacob Blank made his first start of the season and went 6 innings without allowing an earned run and only giving up two hits. In 19.1 innings this season he has a perfect 0.00 ERA with 26 strikeouts to just 2 walks - Michael Brandt made his first career start and went five innings without allowing a hit and striking out six
Up Next
Saturday, March 25 vs U-Mary – 1:30/3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 26 vs U-Mary – 12/2 p.m.

 

Bemidji State University Beavers

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 18-0 at RSU W 6-3 at PSU L 4-1 at Augie L 9-1 at Augie W 7-2 at Augie L 12-2 at Augie	4-10, 1-3 NSIC	L1	13th Overall
Team Notes
- Bemidji State finished its spring trip 2-4, including a 1-3 series against Augustana to begin conference play - BSU opened the week with an 18-0 loss at Rogers State Tuesday followed by a 6-3 win at Pittsburg State Wednesday - The Beavers took a 7-2 win in the third game of the series against the Vikings, led by junior pitcher Connor McNallan who threw a complete game in the win - BSU hit .183 from the plate with a .270 on-base percentage and totaled an 8.08 ERA on the mound and fielded .955
Top Performer(s)
- Senior Ben Boser led BSU from the plate, hitting .444 with one double and a .565 on-base percentage - Freshman Noah Boser hit .385 with two doubles and a .429 on-base percentage - Senior Matt Mastantuono led BSU in the field with 16 assists and a .964 fielding percentage while senior Mason Bellew totaled 36 putouts and a 1.000 fielding percentage - Junior pitcher Connor McNallan threw a complete game win against Augustana, going 7.0 innings with two strikeouts and two earned runs allowed
Up Next
Thursday, March 23  vs. Minnesota Duluth - 12:30/2:30 p.m. (US Bank Stadium) Saturday, March 25  at Winona State - 12/2 p.m. Sunday, March 26  at Winona State - 12/2 p.m.

 

Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 6-1 vs SMSU L 0-2 vs SMSU W 11-1 vs SMSU W 7-3 vs SMSU	9-7, 3-1 NSIC	W2	4th Overall
Team Notes
- CSP outscored SMSU 24-7 and out-hit them 44-18 as CSP finished with a .341 team batting average in the four-game series - The CSP pitching staff held the Mustangs to a .158 average (18-114) with a 1.64 ERA while striking out 39 in 33.0 innings of work in the four games and had four pitchers throw six or more innings and allow two or less runs - CSP had six starters hit .333 or better as all six finished with at least five hits on the weekend, led by Isaac Hormann and Tanner Holmquist’s seven apiece
Top Performer(s)
- Gus Varland threw the first no-hitter in recorded history at CSP in game one, walking a pair and striking out 14 in 7.0 innings, falling just two strikeouts short of the program record as well - Connor Olson hit a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning of game four as he finished the weekend with six hits, including a double and the grand slam
Up Next
Saturday, March 25 vs Minot State (DH) – 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 26 vs Minot State (DH) – 12:00 p.m.

 

University of Mary Marauders

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
0-4 vs MSU	4-9, 0-4 NSIC	L4	15th Overall
Team Notes
- Marauders pitchers posted a 3.00 ERA in their four-game set at Minnesota State to open the 2017 NSIC schedule - Marauders errors and passed balls led to nine runs scored by the Mavericks - Three of the Marauders starting pitchers went at least 5.1 innings. Combined the Mary pitchers had a 21-7 strikeouts – to – walks ratio and allowed just 29 hits in 28.2 innings - In seven innings of relief, four Marauders relievers allowed four runs, all unearned - Nine different Marauders had hits but just four had multiple hits
Top Performer(s)
- Sr, RHP Nicholas Stobbe tossed his second career complete game in the Marauders 3-0 loss at Minnesota State. He struck out seven while allowing just six hits and no walks - Jr. RHP Jake Johnson allowed no earned runs in 6.1 innings against the Mavericks. He struck out three and gave up two walks and six hits - all four runs scored were unearned - In his first collegiate start, Isaac Saad allowed four runs – three earned –in 5.1 innings. He struck out four, walked one and allowed seven hits - Sr. CF Andrew Beyer was 5-for-15 with a walk, a double and two RBI in the four games to lead the Mary offense - So. 3B Darius Barlas was 4-for-13 with a double, two triples and a run scored
Up Next
March 25-26 at Augustana

 

University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 5-2 vs RU W 5-4 vs MAN W 5-3 vs MAN L 7-2 vs MAN L 3-0 vs WSU L 3-2 vs WSU L 5-0 vs WSU W 11-6 vs WSU	7-9, 1-3 NSIC	W1	9th Overall
Team Notes
- Minnesota Crookston hit .256 over the last part of their Spring Trip and their conference opener against Winona State - The Golden Eagles plated 22 runs and had 21 RBI with five doubles and one triple - The U of M Crookston posted a 4.56 team ERA last week - Minnesota Crookston opened the conference season 1-3 against Winona State, taking the last game of the series 11-6 over Winona State led by a win from freshman Justin Yutrzenka, four RBI from Reed Hjelle and three from Mitchell Bornhauser - The Golden Eagles went 3-5 overall on the week with wins over Mansfield and Winona State
Top Performer(s)
- Parker Hanson posted a 0-1 mark but was strong on the mound with a 2.87 ERA in 15.2 innings pitched with 11 strikeouts - Opponents would hit just .224 against him - Cody Pamperin was 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA in 7.2 innings pitched with four strikeouts - Opponents hit just .224 against him - Jayden Grover and Zach Seipel were effective out of the bullpen. Grover pitched 2.2 shutout innings with just three hits allowed. Seipel pitched 2.0 innings with one save, four strikeouts and just two hits allowed - Mitchell Bornhauser hit .467 with two runs scored, two doubles and three RBI - Reed Hjelle hit .296 with three runs scored and seven RBI
Up Next
March 25-26 vs. Sioux Falls – 1/3 p.m.

 

University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 15-7 at Upper Iowa W 9-2 at Upper Iowa L 2-0 at Upper Iowa W 10-4 at Upper Iowa	6-8, 3-1 NSIC	W1	5th Overall
Team Notes
- UMD defeated Upper Iowa in three of four games to open their NSIC season 3-1 - The Bulldogs scored five or more runs in an inning three times on Sunday - UMD smashed 47 hits over the four games for an average of 11.75 - The Bulldogs held Upper Iowa to just two runs in game two, the lowest output of an opponent this season
Top Performer(s)
- Drew Stewart went 7-for-14 with a home run, a double, and four RBI, running his team-leading batting average to .429 - Ben Danielson knocked a grand slam in a pinch-hit opportunity in game one against the Peacocks - Rece Dietrich pitched six innings while allowing just one run and striking out nine in game two - Tyler Wojciechowski picked up six hits in 16 at bats in addition to four RBI and four runs scored - Marco Lucarelli posted a 6-for-14 set of games, including racking up three hits in game four
Up Next
Thursday, March 23 vs. Bemidji State (DH) – 12:30/2:30 p.m.

 

Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks

Last Week – 4-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 vs. U-Mary W 6-1 vs. U-Mary W 4-3 vs. U-Mary W 6-3 vs. U-Mary	9-4, 4-0 NSIC	W5	1st
Team Notes
- The Mavericks swept U-Mary in a four-game neutral site series played on Saturday and Sunday at Minnetonka HS in Minnetonka, Minnesota - Minnesota State batted .271 over the weekend while holding U-Mary to a .171 batting average - The Maverick pitching staff went 4-0 with a 1.41 ERA, two complete games and 41 strikeouts in 32 innings over the weekend
Top Performer(s)
- Four Mavericks batted at least .350 over the weekend: junior catcher Noah Bluth (.400), freshman infielder Tommy McDonald (.375), senior infielder Eric Peterson (.357) and sophomore outfielder Jordan Hart (.357) - Senior infielder Eric Peterson scored four runs over the weekend to put his career total at 177, which is three runs behind Kosuke Hattori (2007-10), who scored 180 runs, and five shy of the all-time program mark of 182 held by Eric Lonquist (1999-2002) - Four Maverick starting pitchers went at least six innings over the weekend: sophomore Jon Ludwig (6), junior Brody Rodning (7), junior Dalton Roach (8) and senior Mitchell Bauer (9)
Up Next
Saturday, March 25 vs. Minnesota Duluth (DH) – 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 26 vs. Minnesota Duluth (DH) – Noon

   

Minot State University Beavers

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 7-3 at WSC W 11-1 at WSC W 9-5 at WSC L 1-15 at WSC	6-3, 3-1 NSIC	L1	14th Overall
Team Notes
- Off to the program’s best start since going 6-2 to open the 2013 season - Enjoyed its best start in conference play since joining the league in 2012 - Had 10 extra base hits over the first three games of the series
Top Performer(s)
- Jordan Schulz finished with six hits in 13 at bats on the weekend including a 3-for-3 game in game 2 Saturday. He finished with a home run and three RBI - Reilly O’Rourke was lights out in his start over the weekend, picking up his first win of his career by pitching seven shutout innings, allowing just one hit with six strikeouts - Tanner Alexander tossed a complete game to earn his first win of the season, going seven innings allowing four hits and three runs with six strikeouts - Kyle Williamson picked up four hits and three RBI on the weekend, added a double and a stolen base - Trevaun Smith had a fantastic game 1 Sunday, going 4-for-4 with four extra base hits, three doubles and a triple, and drove in two runs. He five extra base hits out of his six total
Up Next
Wednesday, March 22 vs. Dickinson State (in Bismarck, N.D.) – 12/2:30 p.m.

 

Northern State University Wolves

Last Week – 2-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 12-5 vs. WJC W 17-9 vs. WJC L 10-5 vs. WJC	7-5, 0-0 NSIC	L1	7th
Team Notes
- NSU team recorded the 2-1 series victory over William Jewell College over the weekend in their final non-conference games of the season - The Wolves combined for 34 runs, 39 hits, 11 extra base hits, and 19 walks in the three game series - Northern was sharp on defense giving up just three errors over the weekend and making some big plays to hold off the Cardinals - On the hill the Wolves notched two victories and tallied 12 strikeouts as a staff, while giving up 22 earned runs
Top Performer(s)
- Patrick Leary led the Wolves in the game one victory, going 4-for-5 at the plate with 3 RBI and one run scored. He notched a double, a triple, and two bunt singles in the game - Nick Hoffard tallied the game one win on the mound, throwing six scoreless innings with just five hits allowed. The senior added four walks in his first win of the season - Freshman Ben Carolin led the team in the game two win, going 3-for-4 with four runs score, an RBI, and three walks - Thomas Sertic threw his second win of the season in game two, pitching 2.1 innings giving up four hits and two earned runs - Ben Allen was the lone Wolf to record multiple hits in game three, going 2-for-4 with an RBI - Jack Schmidt led the team in the series batting .500, with six hits, four runs scored, seven RBI, a triple, a homerun, and three walks
Up Next
Saturday, Mar. 25 at Upper Iowa (DH) – 12 p.m. Sunday, Mar. 26 at Upper Iowa (DH) – 12 p.m.

 

University of Sioux Falls Cougars

Last Week	Season Record	Streak
L 6-0 vs SCSU L 15-13 vs SCSU W 5-4 vs SCSU W 7-6 vs SCSU	4-9, 2-2 NSIC	W2
Team Notes
- In a drama-filled Monday, the University of Sioux -Falls Baseball Team (4-9, 2-2 NSIC) used walk off hits from Matthew Minnick and Trevor Crow to sweep a NSIC doubleheader over St. Cloud State at Ronken Field - The 5-4 and 7-6 victories were the first of the season for USF in league play. For the second straight day, USF played at Ronken Field as its home field at Sioux Falls Stadium (Birdcage) was not ready for play due to wet field conditions - The 5-4 NSIC win was first in league play in career for head coach Grant Hieb in his first season at USF
Top Performer(s)
- Four USF players each had four hits on the day, including Crow (4-of-7, three runs, double), who had the walk off hit in 7-6 victory Monday as USF swept DH; Minnick (4-of-7, four RBI, double), had two-run walk double in game one 5-4 USF win on Monday - Josh Rehwaldt hit .533 (8-of-15) for the series (4-of-8, three runs, two RBI, three doubles on Monday) scoring game-winning run in both USF walk off wins - Brent Griffing-Jarvis (4-of-9 Monday) was 7-of 15 for .462 average in the series - Overall, the Cougars raised its team batting average seven points to .311. USF has a .404 OBP and a .469 slugging percentage as a team. USF's pitching staff also lowered its ERA to 9.58 on the year - The two walk off wins were first of that kind by USF since recording four straight walk off victories during May 1-4, 2016 against Concordia St. Paul (1-0, 6-5) and Augustana (5-4, 8-7)
Up Next
March 25-26 vs Minnesota Crookston at Sioux Falls Stadium - 1/3 p.m.

 

Southwest Minnesota State University

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 1-6 at CSP W 2-0 at CSP L 1-11 at CSP L 3-7 at CSP (10)	6-8, 1-3 NSIC	L2	12th Overall
Team Notes
- SMSU fell in its conference opener to Concordia-St. Paul, 6-1 after giving up five runs in the bottom of the fourth on Saturday morning - After giving up a no-hitter in the first game of a doubleheader, SMSU rebounded with a 2-0 win as Cole Peterson pitched a career best seven and one third innings - The Mustangs took an early lead in the top of the first half in game one on Sunday, but gave up five in the bottom half of the first as the Golden Bears won the first game, 11-1 - SMSU jumped ahead early in the second game as well, pushing its lead to 3-0 in the top half of the fourth but Concordia-St. Paul scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth which was the final scoring of the game until CSP’s walk off grand slam in the bottom of the tenth inning
Top Performer(s)
- Derek Branson had four hits, two runs scored, and one RBI during the Mustangs’ four game series at CSP - Cole Petersen (3-0) pitched seven and one third innings giving up just five hits with three strikeouts in the Mustangs only win of the weekend
Up Next
Tuesday, Mar. 21 at Northwestern (Iowa)

 

St. Cloud State University Huskies

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 6-0 at USF W 15-13 at USF L 5-4 at USF L 7-6 at USF	11-5, 0-0 NSIC	L2	2nd
Team Notes
- The St. Cloud State baseball team collected two wins and two losses in four games at the University of Sioux Falls on March 19-20 - The Huskies defeated the Cougars in both games on March 19 by scores of 6-0 and 15-13 - The Huskies 10 game win streak came to an end on March 20 when USF defeated the Huskies 5-4 and 7-6
Top Performer(s)
- Jackson Goplen led the Huskies on the trip with 6 runs in 15 at bats, followed by Jordan Joseph who registered four runs on 14 at bats - Overall, Jackson Goplen leads the Huskies in batting average among Huskies who have played all 16 games this season with an even .500 batting average - Pitcher Dominic Austing leads the Huskies with 26 strikeouts, with Cal Giese right behind at 19
Up Next
March 25-26 at Wayne State (DH)

 

Upper Iowa University Peacocks

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 15-7 vs. UMD L 9-2 vs. UMD W 2-0 vs. UMD L 10-4 vs. UMD	5-7, 1-3 NSIC	L1	11th Overall
Team Notes
- UIU went 1-3 to open up NSIC play at home against the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs at Robertson Woods Field in Fayette - Upper Iowa totaled 30 hits in four games, with one home run and six doubles
Top Performer(s)
- Brett Fanning tossed a complete-game shutout in game three on Monday afternoon, striking out seven, allowing just seven hits without walking a batter - Alex George totaled 7 hits to lead the Peacocks, while Luis Ravelo (.333) tallied 5 hits on the weekend - Emmitt Kulick and Luis Ravelo plated the two runs in game three to help the Peacocks to their lone win of the weekend
Up Next
March 25-26, vs. Northern State - 12/2 p.m.

 

Wayne State College Wildcats

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
1-3 vs Minot State	5-9, 1-3 NSIC	W1	8th Overall
Team Notes
- Wayne State had season-highs of 22 hits and 15 runs in 15-1 win Sunday over Minot State
Top Performer(s)
- Senior designated hitter Cody Jenkins hit team-high .462 (6 for 13) in Minot State series with one homer and four RBI - Senior shortstop Tandon Dorn was 5 for 15 with two doubles, five RBI and five runs scored - Senior lefthander Teague McFadden fired complete game four-hitter in 15-1 win over Minot State
Up Next
Tuesday, March 21 at William Jewell - 3 p.m. Saturday, March 25 vs. St. Cloud State - 12 p.m. Sunday, March 26 vs. St. Cloud State - 12 p.m.

 

Winona State University Warriors

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 vs UMC W 3-2 vs UMC W 5-0 vs UMC L 11-6 vs UMC	3-11, 3-1 NSIC	L1	6th Overall
Team Notes - Scored 17 runs in their four game set vs Minnesota Crookston - Won two games via the shutout - Held UMC to .259 hitting and allowed just four extra base hits - Drew 10 walks - Pitching staff struck out 32 batters
Top Performer(s)
- Joe Kubera had six hits, four runs scored, three RBI and a double - Jesus Cazares drove in six runs on five hits. Slugged .643 on the weekend - Michael Hommes had five hits - Daniel Karlin-Kamin had a complete game shutout, allowing four hits and striking out seven - Mitchell Stalsberg had a complete game shutout, striking out seven and giving up three hits
Up Next
March 25-26 vs Bemidji State 12/2 p.m.