For Immediate Release
Monday, March 12, 2018
NSIC Media Relations

NSIC Baseball Players of the Week

NSIC Player of the Week
#33 Reed Hjelle (1B, 6-2, 210, Jr., East Grand Forks, Minn. / East Grand Forks HS)
Minnesota Crookston
- Hit .643 (18-of-28) as UMC went 6-1 on Florida trip
- Added nine runs scored, four doubles, one triple, two home runs and 14 RBIs
- Walked three times
- Posted a 1.071 slugging percentage and a .656 on-base percentage
- Went 4-of-6 with four RBIs, three runs scored and a home run in a 18-11 win versus Greensboro
- Was 4-of-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored in a 7-6 win over No. 25 Seton Hill
- Went 3-of-3 with one RBI in a 3-1 loss to No. 13 West Chester, the defending National Champion

NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#18 Aaron Rozek (LHP, 6-2, 225, L/L R-Sr., Burnsville, Minn. / Burnsville HS)
Minnesota State
- Pitched eight innings to earn the win in the Mavericks 4-1 win over Notre Dame College on March 6
- Limited the Falcons to one run on five hits, while striking out 15 and walking one
- Held opposing batters to a .172 batting average
- Garnered career highs in strikeouts and innings pitched

 

Augustana University Vikings

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
Idle	9-0, 0-0 NSIC	W9	2nd Overall
Team Notes
- Non-conference games with Winona State canceled due to weather
Up Next
Saturday, March 17 vs. Northern State - 1:30 / 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 18 vs. Northern State - 12 / 2 p.m.

 

Bemidji State University Beavers

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 7-4 vs UIU L 3-2 vs UIU L 7-5 at Maryville L 3-2 at Maryville	1-5, 0-0 NSIC	L3	13th Overall
Team Notes
- Bemidji State opened its spring trip with a win against Upper Iowa before being swept in the first half of a four-game series at Maryville (Mo.) - After trailing 2-0 in BSU’s win, it scored four runs in the fourth-inning and three in the seventh for the first win of 2018 - Bemidji State went .275 from the plate with eight extra-base hits and a .975 fielding percentage - The pitching staff gave up an ERA of 3.54 and an opposing batting average of .250
Top Performer(s)
- Sophomore Drake Wawro went 8-for-15 from the plate over the four games, including 7-for-8 in the Upper Iowa series - Wawro finished with four RBIs, three runs scored, two doubles and a .933 fielding percentage - Senior Scott Litchy knocked out BSU’s first home run of the season in game two against Maryville, finishing the week with three extra-base hits - Litchy went 5-for-13 from the plate with three RBIs, three runs scored, one home run, one triple and one double - Senior Connor McNallan took BSU’s win against UIU after going 6.0 innings with two earned runs allowed on six hits and three strikeouts
Up Next
Monday, March 12 at Maryville – 12 / 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 13 at Illinois-Springfield – 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 14 at Illinois-Springfield – 1 p.m. Thursday, March 15 at Mo.-St. Louis – 1 / 3 p.m. Saturday, March 17 at Sioux Falls – 1 / 3 p.m. Sunday, March 18 at Sioux Falls – 1 / 3 p.m.

 

Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 4-1 vs MINOT L 2-3 vs MINOT W 7-2 vs SMSU W 6-5 vs SCSU W 9-8 vs DWU W 8-6 vs VCSU L 5-9 vs MMC L 2-5 vs NSU W 2-0 vs NSU W 10-0 (7) vs DSU	7-3, 0-0 NSIC	W2	5th Overall
Team Notes
- CSP opened the season with a doubleheader split with Minot State at US Bank Stadium before winning six of eight contests at the Tucson Invitational Games - The Golden Bears hit .324 (103-318) as a team while holding their opponents to .256 (79-308) over the 10 games on the week - Concordia’s pitching was equally dominant as they put together a 3.38 ERA with 86 strikeouts in 80.0 innings while their opponents had a 5.90 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 76.1 innings
Top Performer(s)
- Drew Sannes paced the team with a .500 average (16-32) and two triples while driving in seven and scoring six times in 10 starts - Gus Varland picked up two wins while allowing just one run over 12.0 innings (0.75 ERA) to go along with 18 strikeouts in his two starts - Louie Varland shut out SMSU for five innings in his first career start to pick up the win while Josh Gaworski limited SCSU to just one run on two hits over 5.0 innings for the win in his CSP debut
Up Next
Saturday, Mar. 17 vs Minnesota Crookston – 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Mar. 18 vs Minnesota Crookston - 12 & 2 p.m.

 

University of Mary Marauders

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 5-2 vs. Malone L 5-4 vs. Malone W 16-13 vs. Aquinas W 8-4 vs. Tiffin L 12-4 vs. Tiffin W 18-8 vs. Embry-Riddle	2-8, 0-0 NSIC	L2	15th Overall
Team Notes
- Played ten games in eight days at the RussMatt Central Florida Invite - Hit .318 as a team last week in their last six games with a .395 slugging percentage and an .374 on base percentage - Earned first win of season against Aquinas College 16-13. Scored first ten runs of the game and the last six runs. The 16 runs was the most for UMary in four years.
Top Performer(s)
- Jesus Payan posted a line of .550/.625/650 in six games last week with six runs scored, five RBIs and two doubles - He walked twice, was hit by pitches twice and only struck out once in 24 plate appearances - Travis Stevens hit .444/.545/.500 in six games with a double, four runs scored and three RBIs - Also earned the win in the 8-4 win over Tiffin. Pitched five shutout innings before allowing four in the 6th. In 5.2 innings he allowed five hits, walked two and struck out five - Seth Siverson hit .357/.471/.429 with a team-high six runs - Will Karrer picked up his first career win with a shutout inning in relief against Aquinas - He picked up his first save the next day against Tiffin with 1.1 scoreless innings to close the game
Up Next
Saturday, March 17 at Wayne State 1:30 /3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 18 at Wayne State 1:30 /3:30 p.m.

 

University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles

Last Week	Season Record	Win Streak	2017 Standings
W 8-3 WVWC W 11-10 WVWC W 18-11 GC W 7-3 UMSL W 7-6 SHU W 4-3 NU L 3-1 WCU	9-5 (0-0 NSIC)	L1	8th Overall
Last Week
- The Golden Eagles have put up a 6-1 mark in Florida. Minnesota Crookston upended No. 25 Seton Hill for their first win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 22 Augustana in 2016 - Minnesota Crookston also has a win over 2017 NCAA Midwest Regional team Northwood - Minnesota Crookston is off to their best start in program history with a 9-5 mark  - Minnesota Crookston also picked up two wins over West Virginia Wesleyan, and one win against Greensboro and Missouri-St. Louis - Their only loss came to defending National Champion West Chester 3-1
Top Performer(s)
- Reed Hjelle hit .643 with nine runs, four doubles, one triple, two home runs and 14 RBIs - Anthony Stewart hit .400 with 10 runs, four doubles, three triples and seven RBIs - Graeme Cherry went 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA in 6.1 innings pitched on just five hits with six strikeouts. - Zach Seipel was 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 4.2 innings pitched with three saves. He gave up just five hits and had nine strikeouts.
Up Next
March 12, vs. Pace, 11 a.m., Kissimmee, Fla. March 17 at Concordia-St. Paul, 1:30/3:30 p.m. March 18  at Concordia-St. Paul, 12/2 p.m.

 

University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 6-4 vs. W.V. Wesleyan L 14-4 vs. Ashland W 9-5 vs. Findlay L 7-6 vs. Tiffin L 6-4 vs. Malone	4-4, 0-0 NSIC	L2	6th Overall
Team Notes
- Junior third baseman Ben Danielson and sophomore designated hitter Cory Krolikowski each hit two home runs in the Russmatt Central Florida Invite, with senior catcher Tyler Midas tacking on one more for the Bulldogs’ fifth of the Invite - The five relief pitchers with a 0.00 ERA on the week, totaling seven combined innings, allowed just four hits, one walk, and struck out nine batters - The Bulldogs collectively hit .275 on the week, going 58-for-211. UMD batters walked 30 times and were hit-by-pitches on seven occasions
Top Performer(s)
- Senior catcher Tyler Midas hit for a team-hit .435 batting average and .783 slugging percentage with 10 hits, five doubles, three walks, and a home run - Sophomore pitcher Kole Kuidmulder worked two scoreless innings of relief with five strikeouts and no hits or walks
Up Next
March 17 at Emporia State (DH) - 12 p.m. March 18 at Emporia State (DH) - 12 p.m.

 

Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks

Last Week – 3-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 10-3 vs. Lewis W 4-1 vs. Notre Dame (Ohio) L 1-0 vs. Walsh W 19-7 (7 innings) vs. Lewis	5-4, 0-0 NSIC	W1	1st
Team Notes
- The Maverick offense batted .358 with a .431 on-base percentage, .482 slugging percentage, 49 hits, 11 extra-base hits, 14 walks and 33 runs scored - Four Mavericks batted over .400 on the week: senior infielder Luke Waldek (.727), sophomore infielder Ty Buck (.667), junior outfielder Tyler Berg (.500) and junior outfielder Jordan Hart (.444) - The Maverick pitching staff went 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA, while limiting opposing hitters to a .197 batting average. Maverick pitchers struck out 57 while walking five - Senior right-hander Dalton Roach became the Mavericks’ career strikeout leader, against Lewis on March 6 when he tallied his 296th strikeout during the third inning - He finished the game with 303 career strikeouts. The previous mark of 295 was held by Jason Hoppe (2011-14) - Head Coach Matt Magers currently has 393 wins as the head coach at Minnesota State
Top Performer(s)
- Junior outfielder Jordan Hart batted .444 with a 1.111 slugging percentage, eight hits, six extra-base hits (two doubles, two triples, two home runs), 11 RBI, five runs scored and 20 total bases - Hart either drove in or scored 48 percent of the Mavericks’ runs on the week - In the Mavericks’ win over Lewis on March 8, Hart went 4-of-5 with a career-high eight RBI, and three runs scored - All four of Hart’s hits were extra-base hits (two doubles, one triple, one home run) as he was a single shy of hitting for the cycle - Senior left-hander Aaron Rozek pitched eight innings to earn the win in the Mavericks 4-1 win over Notre Dame College on March 6 - He limited the Falcons to one run on five hits, while striking out 15 and walking one - Rozek garnered career highs in strikeouts and innings pitched
Up Next
Saturday, March 17 at Southwest Minnesota State – 1:30 p.m. (DH) Sunday, March 18 vs. Southwest Minnesota State – 1:30 p.m. (DH)

Minot State University Beavers

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 1-4 at CSP W 3-2 at CSP L 5-7 at UNK L 0-15 at UNK L 9-10 at UNK L 2-11 at UNK	2-8, 0-0 NSIC	L4	8th Overall
Team Notes
- The Beavers split a doubleheader vs. Concordia-St. Paul on Monday at U.S. Bank Stadium before getting swept in a four-game series at Nebraska-Kearney - Dustin Wilcox is batting a team-high .313, followed by Zack Kunkel and Ethan Fleming who are hitting .286 at the plate - Minot State is hitting .225 as a team with 40 runs, 67 hits, 15 doubles, two triples and seven home runs
Top Performer(s)
- Kyle Williamson went 4-for-4 at the plate and walked twice with three RBIs while notching a double and a home run in a 10-9 loss at UNK - Andres Hackman tossed a complete-game victory vs. CSP while surrendering two runs on seven hits and striking out five hitters
Up Next
Saturday, March 17 at Winona State (DH) – 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 18 at Winona State (DH) – 12 p.m.

 

Northern State University Wolves

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-2 vs. #24 SCSU L 10-4 vs. NWC W 15-3 vs. WAL W 6-4 vs. CU-NE L 14-11 vs. CU-NE W 5-2 vs. CSP L 2-0 vs. CSP	5-4, 0-0 NSIC	L1	7th Overall
Team Notes
- NSU  finished off their spring trip with a 4-3 record notching wins over No. 24 St. Cloud State, Waldorf, Concordia Nebraska, and Concordia-St. Paul - The Wolves hit .294 in the seven games, notching 60 hits, 44 runs scored, 13 doubles, four triples, three homeruns, and 42 RBI - Nine Wolves hit above .300 on the week, with 16 recording at least one hit - On the base paths, the Wolves tallied six stolen bases in eight attempts - They tallied a .977 fielding percentage with 159 putouts, 55 assists, and five errors - The NSU pitching staff notched a 5.94 ERA through 53.0 innings of work, notching 45 strikeouts and a .316 opponent batting average
Top Performer(s)
- Hayden Hall led the NSU starters with a .375 average notching six hits, three of which were doubles, and one homerun - Jack Schmidt was second on the team hitting .370, while notching a team high ten hits, including two doubles - Luke Chevalier, Tyler Jones, Zach Hartford, and Brock Ragatz notched wins on the hill for NSU - Holt Hunziker threw 4.2 scoreless innings, while Sam Krapf led the starters with a 2.25 ERA - Chevalier sat down a team high eight batters in his win over CSP - Hunziker and Thomas Sertic grabbed a save as well
Up Next
Saturday, Mar. 17 at Augustana – 1:30/3:30 p.m. Sunday, Mar. 18 at Augustana – 12/2 p.m.

 

University of Sioux Falls Cougars

Last Week	Season Record	Streak
Idle	0-7	L7
Up Next
Tuesday-Wednesday, March 13-14 at Colorado School of Mines

 

Southwest Minnesota State University

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 8-4 vs SCSU W 18-5 vs DWU L 7-2 vs. CSP W 6-4 vs. Briar Cliff W 7-0 vs. Briar Cliff W 9-6 vs. Mount Marty L 2-1 vs. Jamestown	5-5, 0-0 NSIC	L1	14th
Team Notes
- SMSU went 4-3 during the week at the Tucson Invitational - SMSU finished its spring trip 5-5
Top Performer(s)
- Sophomore Jayden Fleck had a big seven games this week for SMSU finishing the week with three home runs, two doubles and 15 RBIs - He hit a pair of grand slams during the week - Junior Connor Johnson batted .391 in five games with five doubles. He has six RBIs in a win over Dakota Wesleyan - Senior Shane Sellner batted a team-high .520 with two doubles and five RBIs and finished with a .600 slugging percentage - Freshman John Bezdick tossed a seven-inning three-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts and two walks in a win over Briar Cliff
Up Next
Saturday March 17 vs. Minnesota State - 1:30 / 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 18 vs. Minnesota State - 12 / 2 p.m.

 

St. Cloud State University Huskies

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 8-4 vs. SMSU L 2-3 vs. NSU L 5-6 vs. Concordia-St. Paul W 11-4  vs. Olivet Nazarene	7-5	W1	3rd in NSIC
Team Notes
St. Cloud State finished with a 3-4 record at the Tucson Invitational Games Going into the trip, SCSU was 31-3 in games played in Arizona Entering the conference season, SCSU has three players batting over .300 (Harris, .500; Mitch Mallek, .413; Jackson Goplen, .392)
Top Performers
- Caeden Harris batted .600 over the weekend (9-15) and collected four RBI's, four stolen bases and one home run - Mitch Mallek recorded eight hits and four RBI's over four games - Jackson Goplen collected three RBI's over seven hits on the weekend - Shannon Ahern in the trip's final game against Olivet Nazarene, went 4.2 innings out of the pen and did not give up a run while only allowing three hits - Zach Siggelkow, in six innings of work, allowed one earned run and struck out six in the Huskies' win over SMSU - Dominic Austing against Northern State, did not receive a decision but in seven innings of work, he struck out nine and only allowed two earned runs
Up Next
Saturday, March 17 at Upper Iowa (DH) - 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 18 at Upper Iowa (DH) - 12 p.m.

 

Upper Iowa University Peacocks

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 7-4 vs. BSU W  3-2 vs. BSU L 6-1 at Mo. ST W 2-1 at Mo. ST	2-2, 0-0 NSIC	W1	12th Overall
Team Notes
- The Peacocks hit .204 in the opening four games of 2018 with 5 doubles and a triple - Upper Iowa scored 10 runs, while allowing 16 over the first four games - UIU pitchers posted an ERA of 4.34 in 29 innings while striking out 17 batters
Top Performer(s)
- Kolton Gonnerman and Colin Lacey earned wins for Upper Iowa; Gonnerman through 7 innings to defeat the Miners, while Lacey went six-strong to earn the win over the Beavers - Tyus Adkins picked up a save with one out against BSU - Jacob Greco had a team-high 5 hits including a pair of doubles - Zack Cain went 4 for 12 with a pair of RBIs as well
Up Next
Monday, Mar. 12 at Missouri S&T - 1 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 17 vs. St. Cloud State (DH) - 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Mar. 18 vs. St. Cloud State (DH) - 12 pm.

Wayne State College Wildcats

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 12-2 at Pittsburg State L 10-3 at Pittsburg State	2-8, 0-0 NSIC	L3	4th Overall
Team Notes
- WSC dropped two games at Pittsburg State last Tuesday (3/6/18) 12-2 and 10-3
Top Performer(s)
- Junior shortstop Jake Lorenzini had two-run double in 12-2 loss at Pittsburg State - Freshman second baseman Andrew Hanson had two doubles in 10-3 loss at PSU - Lorenzini has reached base safely in six straight games
Up Next
Saturday, March 17 vs. University of Mary - 12/2 p.m. Sunday, March 18 vs. University of Mary - 12/2 p.m.

Winona State University Warriors

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
Idle	1-6, 0-0 NSIC	L2	10th Overall
Team Notes
- Games vs. Augustana canceled due to weather
Up Next
Saturday, March 17 vs. Minot – 1:30 p.m. (DH) Sunday, March 18 vs. Minot – 12 p.m. (DH)