Cougars close regular season with road win at Minot State

The Cougars used a five-run fourth inning to take control, added insurance late and leaned on their bullpen in the final frames to finish the regular season on a winning note. USF answered a two-run third from the Beavers with steady offense throughout the middle innings, highlighted by Casey Sehr’s two-run double, a key pinch-hit RBI single from Myles Rees and late run production from Justin Johnson and Cullen Verville . The Cougars also got important relief work from Jake Pruchniak and Jack Richeson to close out the win.

Final Score Sioux Falls 11, Minot State 9 How It Happened The game opened as a pitcher’s duel through the first two innings, with Taylor Morrissette working around a first-inning double before retiring Minot State in order in the second. USF put traffic on in the second with walks from Brady Schafer and Drew Miller , but the Cougars were unable to cash in. Minot State broke through in the third, taking advantage of a walk and an error before Jessen West delivered a two-run single to put the Beavers ahead 2-0.

Morrissette limited further damage, working out of a bases-loaded situation to keep USF within reach. The Cougars answered in a big way in the fourth. Miller singled and Justin Johnson was hit by a pitch before Sehr delivered a two-run double to center, tying the game at 2-2.

Rees came off the bench and delivered an RBI single to left to give USF the lead. Dominic Vogel followed with a bunt single, William Edwards walked and Mitch Iliff drew a bases-loaded walk before Schafer added another run with a walk, pushing the Cougars in front 5-2. Minot State pulled within one in the bottom half, scoring twice to make it 5-4, but USF kept applying pressure.