For Immediate Release
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
NSIC Media Relations

NSIC Baseball Players of the Week

NSIC Player of the Week
#6 Josh Wenzel
(OF, 6-0, 190, R/R, Sr., Randall, Minn. / Little Falls HS)
Minnesota State
- Batted .625 (10-of-16) with two doubles, a walk, five RBI, two runs scored to help the Mavericks to a four-game series sweep of SMSU
- Drove in the winning runs in the Mavericks’ 1-0 win in game two on Saturday and 2-1 win in game one on Sunday
- Scored the game-tying run in the Mavericks’ 6-5 come-from-behind win in game two against the Mustangs on Sunday
- Recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage with five putouts in center field
- Recorded a .750 slugging percentage and .647 on base percentage over the weekend

NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#29 Josh Gaworski
(RHP, 5-11, 165, Jr., R/R, Shoreview, Minn. / Mounds View HS / Century)
Concordia-St. Paul
- Threw the second no-hitter in DII program history in a 15-0 win in game three over UMC
- Tied for third-most in single-game history in the DII-era at CSP with 14 strikeouts while walking just two
- Moves to 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA to go along with a .053 batting average through his first two starts at CSP
- His no-hitter comes one year to the day after Gus Varland threw the first no-hitter of the DII era at Concordia

*Please note: all upcoming game dates and times are subject to change.
For the most up-to-date schedule go to: http://northernsun.org/calendar.aspx
 

Augustana University Vikings

Last Week 5-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 11-8 vs. Morningside W 10-3 vs. Morningside W 4-0 vs. NSU L 7-3 vs. NSU W 4-2 vs. NSU W 10-0 vs. NSU	14-1, 3-1 NSIC	W2	2nd Overall
Team Notes
- The Vikings opened their season on a 12-game winning streak before dropping their first game on Saturday. It is the best start in school history for Augustana - Augustana went 5-1 last week sweeping a midweek doubleheader of Morningside and going 3-1 against Northern State - Augustana leads the NSIC in batting avg. (.326), runs (119) and hits (160) and is second best in ERA (2.95), strikeouts (143), shutouts (3) and saves (5)
Top Performer(s)
- Jordan Barth hit .400 (8-for-20) with six RBI, five runs scored, three doubles and two home runs - Sam Baier went 6-for-19 (.316) with seven RBI, one double, triple and two home runs - Ryan Nickel was 8-for-19 (.421) with two RBI - Jacob Blank and Jed Schmidt each tossed complete game shutouts against Northern State
Up Next
Wednesday, March 21 vs. Winona State - 2 p.m. Saturday, March 24 vs. Minnesota Crookston - 12 p.m. Sunday, March 25 vs. Minnesota Crookston - 12 p.m.

 

Bemidji State University Beavers

Last Week 2-6	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 5-3 at UIS L 23-5 at UIS L 13-4 at UMSL L 6-5 at UMSL L 2-1 vs USF W 7-3 vs USF L 3-1 vs USF W 4-2 vs USF	4-12, 2-2 NSIC	W1	13th Overall
Team Notes
- Bemidji State fell in four games to finish its spring trip before opening the NSIC schedule 2-2 versus Sioux Falls - The Beavers went .215 (52-242) from the plate with a .332 on-base percentage during the eight-game stretch
Top Performer(s)
- Senior Scott Litchy led BSU at the plate hitting .357 (10-28) with three doubles and four RBIs - Litchy finished with a slugging percentage of .464 and an on-base percentage of .455 with five stolen bases on five attempts - Sophomores Isaiah Grancorvitz and Noah Boser each went 6-for-21 from the plate with three RBIs - Freshman Parker Borg led BSU with five RBIs, including three on his first career home run - Freshman Travis Carruth went 1-1 in two games as a pitcher with a team-high 11.1 innings pitched - Carruth finished the week with a 2.38 ERA and seven strikeouts - Junior Jesse Palafox threw a 2.45 ERA in 3.2 innings of relief work with an opposing batting average of .154
Up Next
Tuesday, March 27 at Concordia-St. Paul – 1 p.m.

 

Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears

Last Week 4-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 1-0 vs. UMC W 1-0 vs. UMC W 15-0 vs. UMC W 2-0 vs. UMC	11-3, 4-0 NSIC	W6	5th Overall
Team Notes
- Concordia picked up four consecutive shutouts against Minnesota Crookston to claim the weekend sweep at Minnetonka in the opening weekend of NSIC play - The Golden Bears extended their streak to 47.1 consecutive scoreless innings as they have now thrown six straight shutouts dating back to game one of a doubleheader against NSU on Mar. 10 - On the weekend, CSP allowed just 11 hits in 32.0 innings while striking out 53, resulting in a .105 opponent batting average - At the plate, the Golden Bears put up 19 runs on 33 hits while also drawing 16 walks for a .297 batting average and a .402 on-base percentage
Top Performer(s)
- Josh Gaworski threw the second no-hitter in DII-era history at CSP as he struck out 14 and walked two in his 7.0 innings of work in a 15-0 game three win - Gus Varland also threw a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts in a 1-0 game one win while his brother Louie Varland added 7.0 innings of five-hit ball with eight strikeouts in a 2-0 game four win - Zach Lauzon tied the DII-era record at CSP with 16 strikeouts in 8.1 shutout innings while allowing four hits in a 1-0 game two win
Up Next
Saturday, March 24 vs St. Cloud State – 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 25 vs St. Cloud State - 12 p.m.

 

University of Mary Marauders

Last Week 0-4	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 8-0 vs. WSC L 6-5 vs. WSC L 5-4 vs. WSC L12-5 vs. WSC	2-12, 0-4 NSIC	L6	15th Overall
Team Notes
- Opened NSIC season with a site change to Omaha, NE, from Wayne, NE, and suffered four losses, including a pair by one run each. - Hit .296 for the weekend with just four hits fewer than the Wildcats (41-37) but had just three extra base hits (three doubles) to eight (five doubles, three home runs) for WSC - Marauders relievers posted a 2.38 ERA over the weekend in 11.1 innings, allowing just three earned runs - The Marauders next road trip includes four games at Upper Iowa (March 24-25) with a swing to Minnesota Duluth for a doubleheader on March 27 before returning to Bismarck for the team’s home opener over Easter weekend - UMary is fifth in the NSIC in hitting with a .300 batting average
Top Performer(s)
- Jr. OF Jesus Payan went 7-for-16 in the WSC series, scoring three times and driving in three runs. - For the year Payan is second in the NSIC with a .451 batting average  - Jr. 3B/SS Darius Barlas posted a three-hit game against WSC and finished the weekend 6-for-11 - Barlas had a double, scored twice and drove in a run - So. OF Jaxon Ford finished the weekend with a 3-for-5 effort against Wayne State, scoring twice - Ford finished the four-game set 6-for-15 with three runs scored and a double while going 3-for-3 in steal attempts - P/1B Travis Stevens tossed a season-high seven innings against the Wildcats, striking out two and allowing five earned runs - Stevens posted a line of .550/.625/650 in six games last week with six runs scored, five RBIs and two doubles
Up Next
Saturday, March 24 at Upper Iowa - 12 p.m. Sunday, March 25 at Upper Iowa - 12 p.m. Tuesday, March 27 at Minnesota Duluth - 1:30 p.m.

 

University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles

Last Week 1-4	Season Record	Win Streak	2017 Standings
W 8-7 vs. PACE L 1-0 vs. CSP L 1-0 vs. CSP L 15-0 vs. CSP L 2-0 vs. CSP	10-9 (0-4 NSIC)	L4	8th Overall
Team Notes
- Minnesota Crookston continues to be on one of their best starts in program history with a 10-9 mark through the first 19 games - The Golden Eagles picked up an 8-7 win over Pace University March 12 to conclude their trip to Florida - The Golden Eagles opened up conference play with four losses to Concordia-St. Paul. Minnesota Crookston was close as they lost three games by less than two runs - Minnesota Crookston pitched well as they posted a 4.62 ERA on the week, however they struggled to hit as they had only a .166 average through five games - The Golden Eagles head to take on No. 12 Augustana University Sat., March 24 and Sun., March 25
Top Performer(s)
- Scott Mortenson hit .273 in three games for the Golden Eagles - Zach Rustad posted a 0.90 ERA in 10 innings pitched with seven strikeouts and six walks - Parker Hanson had a 1.29 ERA in seven innings pitched with seven strikeouts and two walks - Justin Yutrzenka posted a 1.50 ERA in six innings pitched with four strikeouts
Up Next
Saturday, March 24 at Augustana - 1 p.m. Sunday, March 25 at Augustana - 12 p.m.

 

University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

Last Week 0-4	Season Record	Streak	Current Position
L 4-3 vs. Emporia State L 2-1 vs. Emporia State L 12-8 vs. William Jewell L 11-1 (8) vs. Emporia State	4-8, 0-0 NSIC	L6	12th Overall
Team Notes
- Early struggles continue for Minnesota Duluth as it has now dropped six-straight just before entering conference play. - Senior catcher (and captain) Tyler Midas’ strong start to the season showed this past weekend against Emporia State University and William Jewell College as he swatted .400 with six hits which included a double and a home run. - Seven relief pitchers combined for a 0.00 ERA in 9.2 innings pitched.
Top Performer(s)
- Senior catcher (and captain) Tyler Midas was one of six Bulldogs to start in all four games, and hit for .400 on the weekend, including a double and his third home run of the season. Midas worked the plate to the tune of a .667 slugging percentage and a .438 on-base percentage.
Up Next
Saturday, March 24 at Wayne State – 12 p.m. Sunday, March 25 at Wayne State - 12 p.m.

 

Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks

Last Week 4-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 8-0 vs. SMSU W 1-0 vs. SMSU W 2-1 vs. SMSU W 6-5 vs. SMSU	9-4, 4-0 NSIC	W5	1st
Team Notes
- The Maverick offense batted .316 with a .393 on-base percentage, 37 hits, five extra-base hits, 16 walks and 17 runs scored in a four-game series sweep of Southwest Minnesota State - Three Mavericks batted over .400 on the week: senior center fielder Josh Wenzel (.625), sophomore infielder Tommy McDonald (.571) and sophomore infielder Jack Mattson (.429) - The Maverick pitching staff went 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA, two shutouts, two saves, a .223 batting average against, 40 strikeouts and five walks in 32 innings pitched - Head Coach Matt Magers is approaching 400 career wins as he currently has 397 as the head coach at Minnesota State
Top Performer(s)
- Senior center fielder Josh Wenzel batted .625 (10-of-16) with two doubles, a walk, five RBI, two runs scored and a 1.000 fielding percentage in the Mavericks four-game series sweep of Southwest Minnesota State - Wenzel drove in the winning runs in the Mavericks’ 1-0 win in game two on Saturday and 2-1 win in game one on Sunday - Wenzel also scored the game-tying run in the Mavericks’ 6-5 come-from-behind win in game two against the Mustangs on Sunday - Senior left-hander Aaron Rozek pitched seven scoreless innings in the Mavericks’ 1-0 win over the Mustangs on Saturday evening - Rozek struck out 14 batters, walked none, held the opposition to a .250 batting average and with that performance, Rozek lowered his season ERA to 0.95 - He has now struck out 35 batters, while walking three, over 19 innings
Up Next
Saturday, March 24 vs. Minot State – 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 25 vs. Minot State – 12 p.m.

Minot State University Beavers

Last Week 3-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 11-5 at WSU W 9-7 at WSU L 7-5 at WSU W 9-5 at WSU	5-9, 3-1 NSIC	W1	8th Overall
Team Notes
- The Beavers opened NSIC play winning three of four games at Winona State - Minot State hit .318 as a team with 34 runs, 41 hits, nine doubles and six home runs in four games - Outscored Winona State 13-0 in the eighth and ninth innings while overcoming a six-run deficit in game two and five-run deficit in game four - The pitching staff gave up an ERA of 5.52 and struck out 26 batters with an opposing batting average of .328
Top Performer(s)
- Darrel Doll hit the game-tying three-run home run in the ninth inning of a 9-7 victory in game two and hit the go-ahead grand slam in ninth inning of 9-5 win in game four - Michael Borst hit .400 with one double and five RBIs while scoring five runs
Up Next
Saturday, March 24 at Minnesota State – 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 25 at Minnesota State – 12 p.m.

 

Northern State University Wolves

Last Week 1-3	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 4-0 vs. AUGIE W 7-3 vs. AUGIE L 4-2 vs. AUGIE L 10-0 vs. AUGIE	6-7, 1-3 NSIC	L2	7th Overall
Team Notes
- The Wolves opened league action going 1-3 against Augustana over the weekend - Northern hit .137 as a team with 14 hits, nine runs scored, four doubles, one homerun, and eight RBI - Defensively, they tallied a .943 fielding percentage with 81 putouts, 35 assists, and seven errors - The NSU pitching staff tallied a 5.00 ERA through 27.0 innings, giving up 15 earned runs on 30 hits with 23 strikeouts - Northern tallied a weekend high six hits in the 4-2 loss to the Vikings on Sunday
Top Performer(s)
- Justin Barreneche led the team hitting .444 over the weekend with four hits, two runs scored, two doubles, and one RBI - Jack Schmidt blasted his first grand slam of the season in the game two victory, and led the team with four RBI on the week - Thomas Sertic grabbed the win on the mound throwing 5.2 innings with a 1.59 ERA, while Holt Hunziker held the Vikings scoreless through 3.1 innings with seven strikeouts
Up Next
Saturday, March 24 at Southwest Minnesota State – 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 25 vs. Southwest Minnesota State – 12 p.m.

 

University of Sioux Falls Cougars

Last Week 2-2	Season Record	Streak
W 2-1 vs. BSU  W 3-1 vs. BSU  L 7-3 vs. BSU L 4-2 vs. BSU	2-12, 2-2 NSIC	L1
Team Notes
- Cougars ended a 10-game slide after defeating Bemidji State, 2-1 in a four-game series moved to Omaha   - Over the past four games,  the Cougars had a 3.38 ERA, allowing 13 earned runs and 27 hits in 32 innings of work - The Cougars won both first games of the doubleheaders with Bemidji State - USF improved to 2-12 overall, including 2-2 in the NSIC
Top Performer(s)
- Senior centerfielder Rob Johnson hit .643 over a four-game series with Bemidji State, rapping nine hits in 14 at bats with two runs scores, four RBI and 13 total bases in helping the Cougars split a doubleheader with the Beavers - In four-game series had a .929 slugging percentage, .643 on-base percentage, stole three bases and fielded 1.000 percent - In the opener on Sunday, freshman right hander Brandon Roesler handcuffed the BSU hitters as he moved to 1-2 with his first complete game of the season and his career. - In throwing just 64 pitches, the freshman allowed just two hits while recording four strikeouts and walking one hitter in the seven-inning career-best pitching performance. He outpitched BSU's Connor McNallan, who fell to 1-2 after allowing five hits and two earned runs over six innings - In double duty, senior Dylan Gavin threw his third straight stellar outing in a 2-1 win over Bemidji State, helping USF end a 10-game losing streak. He also hit .333 with four hits in 12 at bats and three runs scored - On the mound, he had a 1.50 ERA, going 1-0 with a six-inning win when he allowed just three hits and a run and four strikeouts - Junior right-hander Spencer Dokken was stellar in relief, with a 1.93 ERA in two appearances, allowing just four hits and one run with six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. He also recorded his first save of the season
Up Next
Saturday, March 24 at Winona State - 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 25 at Winona State - 12 p.m.

 

Southwest Minnesota State University

Last Week 0-4	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 8-0 vs. MSU L 1-0 vs. MSU L 2-1 vs. MSU L 6-5 vs. MSU	5-9, 0-4 NSIC	L5
Team Notes
- SMSU opened NSIC play last weekend in Omaha, Nebraska, losing four games to Minnesota State - SMSU lost game one, 8-0, then lost three one-run games - SMSU held a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning in Sunday’s game one and held a 5-3 lead in the ninth inning in game two on Sunday - SMSU’s non-conference doubleheader at Northwestern College (Iowa) on Tuesday is canceled due to field conditions
Top Performer(s)
- Sophomore Ben Heichel hit .429 in the four games with two doubles and one home run. He led the team with three RBIs and 11 total bases - Junior Jayden Fleck hit. 357 in the four games with two doubles and seven total bases - Freshman John Bezdicek had 11 strikeouts in the game two loss in 5 2/3 innings - Sophomore Jeremy Stouffer recorded a career-high eight strikeouts in seven innings and took a no-decision in the game four loss
Up Next
Saturday, March 24 vs. Northern State - 12 p.m. Sunday, March 25 vs. Northern State - 12 p.m.

 

St. Cloud State University Huskies

Last Week 2-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 8-5 vs. UIU L 5-10 vs. UIU W 5-4 vs. UIU	9-6, 2-1 NSIC	W1	3rd in NSIC
Team Notes
- The opening series at Upper Iowa was shifted to a three-game set and moved to Sunday and Monday due to frost on the field - Sunday’s game was suspended until Monday afternoon after the Huskies and Peacocks were tied at five a-piece after 11 innings - St. Cloud State took two of three against UIU to win their opening series - This is the tenth year in a row the Huskies have opened the conference season with a series win
Top Performers
- Caeden Harris recorded two triples on Monday with his first triple of the day being a 2 RBI gap-shot to push across the go-ahead runs in the 12th inning of the series opener - Jordan Joseph recorded his first homerun of the season on Sunday - Jackson Goplen recorded five hits and two RBI’s in the series while also throwing out the game-tying run out at home from center field in the series finale - Dom Austing threw four innings as the game one starter and recorded two strikeouts. In game three, Austing started at second base and was 2-2 with a double at the plate - Matthew Osterberg threw three innings out of the bullpen to preserve the Huskies’ lead in the first game, until the Peacocks made a ninth inning comeback - Aaron Hammann notched the win as the game three starter, striking out three and allowing four runs over five innings - Nathan Strobel received both the win in the series opener and the save in the series finale - Strobel threw three innings and only allowed one run on three hits in the first game while striking out one in one inning in the third game
Up Next
Saturday, March 24 – Concordia-St. Paul - 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 25 – Concordia-St. Paul - 12 p.m.

 

Upper Iowa University Peacocks

Last Week 1-4	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 16-8 at Mo. S&T L 13-3 at Mo. S&T L 8-5 (12) vs. SCSU W 10-5 vs. SCSU L 5-4 vs. SCSU	3-6, 1-2 NSIC	L1	12th Overall
Team Notes
- The Peacocks went 1-4 since the last NSIC release, but played well against St. Cloud State in a weather-shortened, three-game series - Upper Iowa hit .289 in the five games with 13 extra base hits including 8 doubles, a triple and 4 homers - UIU scored 30 runs, but allowed 47 runs and a .357 batting average to their opponents
Top Performer(s)
- Jacob Greco led the hitters with a .500 average; the redshirt senior went 9-18 with 6 runs and 5 RBI - Greco had a triple and two homers to slug .944 - Emmett Kulick and Dominic Hillesheim each had 6 hits, while Conner Klostermann and Zackary Cain each picked up 5 hits - Ryan Munoz earned the sole win on the hill for UIU with a complete game on Monday against St. Cloud State
Up Next
Saturday, March 24 vs. U-Mary - 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 25 vs. U-Mary - 12 p.m.

Wayne State College Wildcats

Last Week 4-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 8-0 vs. MARY W 6-5 vs. MARY W 5-4 vs. MARY W 12-5 vs. MARY	6-8, 4-0 NSIC	W4	4th Overall
Team Notes
- WSC opened NSIC play with a four-game sweep of Mary in games moved to Millard North HS in Omaha, Neb. due to wet/icy field conditions in Wayne
Top Performer(s)
- Sophomore starter Aidan Breedlove fired five-hit shutout to beat Mary in opener 8-0 - Junior leftfielder Travis Miller hit .500 going 6 for 12 at the plate with one homer and five RBI - Sophomore starter Hunter Wienhoff had 11 strikeouts in six innings work in Sunday’s 12-5 win - Sophomore reliever Lawson Zenner earned one win and one save with three perfect innings of relief in two games
Up Next
Saturday, March 24 vs. Minnesota Duluth - 12 p.m. Sunday, March 25 vs. Minnesota Duluth - 12 p.m.

Winona State University Warriors

Last Week 1-3	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 11-5 vs. MINOT L 9-7 vs. MINOT W 7-5 vs. MINOT L 9-5 vs. MINOT	2-9, 1-3 NSIC	L1	10th Overall
Team Notes
- Held on for a 7-5 victory against Minot State on Sunday to earn first NSIC win of the season - Led entering the 9th inning of two of the weekend losses - Launched five home runs in four-game series vs. Minot State - Lead NSIC in fielding percentage (.976)
Top Performer(s)
- Sophomore Derek Martin recorded at least one RBI in all four games vs. Minot State - Sophomore Andrew Pliner batted .500 (8-for-16) with three RBI, one homer and three runs scored - Senior Taylor Field hit safely in all four games vs. Minot State, batting .438 (7-for-16) with five runs scored - Freshman pitcher Dillon Whittaker earned his first collegiate win and struck out a career-best six batters vs. Minot State on Sunday - Sophomore pitcher Caleb Schoenholz posted a quality start vs. Minot State on Saturday allowing one earned run on five hits over 7.0 IP while striking out a career-high seven in a no decision
Up Next
Saturday, March 24 vs. Sioux Falls - 12 p.m.  Sunday, March 25 vs. Sioux Falls - 12 p.m.