SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – St. Cloud State Baseball (28-25, 22-18 NSIC) won twice on Thursday in the NSIC Tournament, beating UMary 9-7 and Wayne State 19-5 at the Birdcage in Sioux Falls to advance to the consolation semifinal. SCSU's offense exploded for 28 runs, four home runs and 10 extra base hits while getting back-to-back strong starts from junior Bryce Brassfield (Gilbert, Ariz.) and redshirt junior Cael Kolacia (Fort Dodge, Iowa).
 
GAME 1 – SCSU 9, UMARY 7
 
After giving up the first run of the game in the second inning, the Huskies loaded the bases in the bottom of the second inning and ended up scoring four runs on a fielder's choice from redshirt sophomore Hayden Konkol (Denmark, Wis.), a two-RBI single from junior Taehyung Kim (Marana, Ariz.) and an RBI single from redshirt junior Wilson Zuck (Appleton, Wis.). Sophomore Wilmis Castro (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) then extended SCSU's lead to 5-1 with a double in the third inning.
 
UMary pulled closer with two runs in the fifth inning, but the Huskies responded right back with another three runs in the bottom of the inning to push the lead back to 8-3. Senior Ethan Navratil (Albany, Minn.) launched a solo home run in the inning while Zuck added another RBI single.
 
On the mound, junior Bryce Brassfield (Gilbert, Ariz.) nearly went the distance for the Huskies, finishing eight innings and starting the ninth before being pulled after giving up back-to-back hits. His final stat line included five earned runs on 10 hits and two walks with six strikeouts. Junior Brady Nelson (Oro Valley, Ariz.) came on in relief and gave up two more runs but got the last three outs to secure the win.
 
TOP HUSKIES

• Brassfield – W, 8.0 IP, 6 R, 5 ER, 6 K
• Zuck – 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI
• Navratil – 2-4, HR, RBI, 2 R
• Kim – 2-4, 2 RBI
• Castro – 2-3, 2B, RBI, 2 R 

NOTES

• SCSU is now 35-23 in NSIC Tournament games dating back to 2010 and 3-0 against UMary in the conference tournament.
• Brassfield matched the season-long outing of a season for the Huskies with his eight-inning start. His six strikeouts mark the fifth time this season he has struck out six or more in a game.
• Zuck recorded his first career multi-hit game and with his three-hit and two RBI performance.
• Navratil hit his 13^th home run of the season to move to eighth on SCSU's single season list, matching Jordan Smith (2010) and Cal James (2024).
• The Husky captain had his team-leading 22^nd multi-hit game of the season.
• Castro hit his 14^th double of the season and had his 19^th multi-hit game of the season.
• Kim recorded his 10^th multi-hit game of the season with two hits and two RBI.

GAME 2 – SCSU 19, WSC 5
 
With the season on the line for the second straight game, the Huskies came out swinging and jumped on the Wildcats, scoring 11 runs over the first three innings to take a 11-0 lead. Castro provided two of the biggest punches in the rally with a two-RBI triple in the first inning and a three-run home run in the second inning. SCSU scored six more runs in the in fifth inning, including four on a grand slam from Kim and never looked back.
 
On the mound, Kolacia pitched eight strong innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks with eight strikeouts to earn his fifth win of the season.
 
TOP HUSKIES

• Castro – 2-3, HR, 3B, 6 RBI
• Kim – 2-5, HR, 4 RBI
• Navratil – 3-4, HR, 2 RBI, 3 R
• Redshirt junior Eric Bello (Manati, Puerto Rico) – 3-6, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI
• Kolacia – W, 8.0 IP, 5 R, 3 ER, 8 K

NOTES 

• SCSU improves to 36-23 in NSIC Tournament games and 3-1 against Wayne State in the conference tournament.
• The Huskies 19 runs are the second-most it has scored in an NSIC Tournament game and the most since a 23-0 win over Winona State on May 9, 2018.
• SCSU's 18 hits match a season-high, marking the fourth time this season they have hit that mark.
• Castro recorded his 11^th home run, 20^th multi-hit game of the season and had a team-best six RBI in the game.
• Castro's six RBI are the most by a Husky since John Nett had six against Sioux Falls on April 17, 2023.
• Navratil hit his 14^th home run of the season to move to fifth on SCSU's single season list, matching Michael Jurgella (2015), Zak Hoffman (2016) and Sam Riola (2023).
• Navratil's two RBI give him 61 on the season to move to eighth of SCSU's single season list.
• Kim hit his fourth home run of the season and had a season-high four RBI with his grand slam.
• Bello recorded a season-high three hits with his 3-6 performance.
• Kolacia matched the season-long outing of a season for the Huskies with his eight-inning start. His eight strikeouts were a season high.

UP NEXT
 
SCSU will play Sioux Falls in the consolation semifinal at 3:30 p.m. CT on Friday, May 9 at the Birdcage in Sioux Falls. If the Huskies were to win, they would play the loser of Minnesota State and Augustana with a spot in the championship game on the line.