Jackrabbits make return trip to Omaha

Friday, April 26

Omaha, Neb.

4 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Omaha

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

4/25/2019 11:51:00 AM | Baseball

Games 36-38: South Dakota State (19-16, 11-7 Summit) vs. Omaha (24-11-1, 16-2 Summit)

When	Friday, April 26 • 4 p.m. \| Saturday, April 27 • 4 p.m. \| Sunday, April 28 • noon
Where	Seymour Smith Park (J.J. Isaacson Field) \| Omaha, Nebraska
TV	None
Radio	Omaha Radio Broadcast
Live Stats	OMavs.com
Game Notes	South Dakota State \| Omaha \| The Summit League
Social Media	Twitter \| Instagram \| #RAB5

The South Dakota State University baseball team will make attempt to narrow the gap in the Summit League baseball regular season race as it travels to league-leading Omaha for a three-game weekend series.

First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday at J.J. Isaacson Field located within Seymour Smith Park in Omaha. Game 2 of the series is slated for a 2 p.m. start Saturday, with the series finale set for noon Sunday. Live stats of all three games will be available through OMavs.com.

The Jackrabbits enter the weekend with a 19-16 overall record and a second-place mark of 11-7 in Summit League action. SDSU, which has exceeded its win total from a year ago, claimed two of three games against Western Illinois in a weekend series played in Sioux Falls before playing its first true home game of the season on Tuesday, defeating the University of Sioux Falls, 11-7, at Erv Huether Field.

Omaha carries a five-game lead over SDSU into this weekend's series, sporting a 16-2 mark in league play after sweeping a three-game series at Purdue Fort Wayne last weekend. The Mavericks stand 24-11-1 overall following a 9-2 setback against Kansas State Tuesday night in a game played at Werner Park, which is home to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers.

SDSU moved a scheduled home series against North Dakota State to J.J. Isaacson Field two weeks ago after a blizzard hit the region. The Jackrabbits came away with a pair of victories, winning the April 13 opener, 5-2, and rallying for a 10-9, 10-inning victory in the April 14 series finale.

THE SERIES: South Dakota State and Omaha will play for the 165th time when the two squads meet in Friday's series opener. The Mavericks hold an 85-78-1 lead in the series that dates back to 1949.The two programs were longtime rivals in the North Central Conference before both moved to Division I and The Summit League.

Omaha swept the first series of the season, winning all three games played April 5-6 in Sioux Falls. The series was moved to Augustana University's Karras Park Home of Ronken Field due to unplayable field conditions at the Jackrabbits' Erv Huether Field.

SDSU was on the verge of ending the opener via the 10-run rule before the Mavericks staged an improbable comeback to steal a 12-10 victory. The Jackrabbits led 10-1 when the momentum began to turn in Omaha's favor in the bottom of the sixth inning as Maverick right fielder Ben Palensky made a leaping catch at the fence to rob Logan Holtz of a home run.

An error in the top of the seventh opened the door for Omaha as nine consecutive batters later reached via either a hit or a walk against three Jackrabbit hurlers as the Mavericks hung eight unearned runs on the board to pull to within 10-9.

The Mavericks then scored three times in the top of the ninth off Jackrabbit closer Bret Barnett to take the lead.

Omaha carried the momentum over to the next day, sweeping a doubleheader by scores of 9-4 and 11-7. The Mavericks scored in each of the first three innings in the opener, including a two-run home run by Parker Smejkal in the third inning.

In Game 2 of the twinbill, it was the Jackrabbits who made a valiant comeback bid, only to see Omaha slam the door shut with a grand slam by Thomas DeBonville in the top of the ninth.

DeBonville's game-winning blast came after SDSU rallied from a 7-1 deficit to tie the game at 7-all in the bottom of the eighth. Drew Beazley hit a three-run home run in the sixth to pull the Jackrabbits to within 7-5, then added a game-tying double to left in the eighth.

Freshman reliever Riley McSherry did his best to keep the Jackrabbits in the game by tossing four shutout innings.

LAST WEEK: Following are some notes from the Jackrabbits' series win against Western Illinois and ensuing midweek victory over Sioux Falls:

The Jackrabbits have scored 11 runs in three of their last four games and have recorded double figures for runs seven times this season;
SDSU tallied a season-high total of 14 strikeouts for the third time this season in the April 19 series opener against Western Illinois
Jackrabbit pitchers did not issue a base on balls in the series opener against Western Illinois, marking the first time SDSU posted a walk-free game since Feb. 18, 2017, versus Chicago State
Alex Marro recorded his first save of the season as the Jackrabbits prevailed, 11-9, in Game 1 of the April 20 twinbill;
SDSU fell to 1-2 in extra-inning games this season by dropping a 7-6, 10-inning decision to Western Illinois in the second game of an April 20 doubleheader;
The Jackrabbits stranded a season-high 15 runners on base in the series finale versus Western Illinois.

OLMSTEAD HONORED: South Dakota State University right-hander Tyler Olmstead was honored as Summit League Pitcher of the Week for his performance in the Jackrabbits' series-opening win against Western Illinois on April 19.

A junior from Sioux Falls, Olmstead struck out a career-high 11 batters and did not walk a man over seven innings as he improved to 3-2 on the season in an 11-3 Jackrabbit victory. Olmstead scattered seven hits in allowing two runs as he pitched into the seventh inning for the sixth time in as many starts in league play. He struck out at least one batter in each of the first six innings, including fanning the side in the bottom of the second inning to work out of a jam.

Olmstead is the third Jackrabbit pitcher to earn the weekly pitching award this season, joining Brady Stover (Feb. 18) and Nic McCay (April 1).

FRESHMEN AT THE CORNERS: Two first-year freshmen have held the corner infield positions throughout Summit League play and have been key contributors to the Jackrabbit offense this season.

Drew Beazley, who was named Summit League Player of the Week on March 25, shares the second spot on the squad with four home runs while batting .271 with 16 runs batted in. The Johnston, Iowa, native has seen action both in the field and on the mound for the Jackrabbits, seeing most of his time in the field at first base. He ranks third on the team in batting during Summit League play with a .315 average, going 17-for-54 with five doubles, all four of his home runs and 13 runs batted in, while posting a .630 slugging percentage.

Beazley also has made 10 appearances out of the bullpen this season and ranks second on the team with three saves.

Fellow freshman Luke Ira has started 34 of 35 games this season, mostly at third base. He shares the team lead with 14 multi-hit games while batting .274 overall and ranking third on the squad with 22 runs batted in. Ira delivered the game-winning RBI double in the top of the ninth inning as part of a two-hit performance in the March 24 series finale at Oral Roberts.

STEADY STEIGER: Sophomore Gus Steiger has made a seamless transition to the shortstop position in 2019. A native of Minnetonka, Minnesota, Steiger took over the starting role at second base early in the 2018 campaign and led the team with a .311 batting average. He also was nearly flawless in the field, committing only one error in 195 defensive chances for a .995 fielding percentage.

So far this season, Steiger again leads the team in batting with leads the team with a .308 average, 12 stolen bases and 32 runs batted in. He has reached base safely in 30 games in a row, which ranks as the eighth-longest streak in the program's Division I history (since 2005).

With hits in 25 games during his current streak, Steiger is batting .326 (44-for-135) with 11 doubles, four home runs and 29 runs batted in. He has collected two or more hits in 12 of the 30 games, including four-hit performances March 8 at UA Little Rock and March 24 at Oral Roberts.

Steiger also has handled the move across the diamond defensively, turning in a team-high 104 assists in compiling a .964 fielding percentage.

FALK HEATING UP: Junior Josh Falk has been on a tear at the plate as he has racked up eight extra-base hits over the last 10 games.

Since the calendar flipped to April, Falk is batting .390 (16-for-41) and has posted an .829 slugging percentage with five home runs and three doubles while splitting time between first base and designated hitter. Falk has recorded five multi-hit games and has driven in 14 runs in that span, highlighted by a four-RBI performance in Game 1 of the April 20 doubleheader versus Western Illinois, to pull to within one of the team lead for the season with 31 RBIs.

The Minnetonka, Minnesota, native has hit home runs in three of his last five games, including a three-run shot for his team-leading eighth round-tripper of the season that was part of a five-run first inning April 23 against Sioux Falls.

COUNTDOWN TO 200: Senior outfielder Nick Smith will make a late run to join a select group of Jackrabbits who have compiled 200 career hits.

The Chanhassen, Minnesota, native enters the weekend with 175 career hits, 25 away from becoming the 19th player in program history to reach the milestone, and the first since Matt Johnson (209 career hits) in 2017. Smith has picked up the pace recently, recording 12 hits (12-for-32) over the last eight games and highlighted by a four-hit, five-RBI performance in the April 19 series opener against Western Illinois.

Smith also has possessed a discerning eye at the plate as he ranks ninth all-time at SDSU with 97 career bases on balls. This season, Smith has drawn a team-best 32 walks while striking out only 16 times in 155 plate appearances.

A CALL TO ARMS: South Dakota State starting pitchers have thrown at least five innings in 24 of the team's 35 games so far this season, including 15 of 18 Summit League contests.

Junior Tyler Olmstead has taken over the No. 1 starter's role in recent weeks and has tallied a team-high 64 strikeouts in 61 innings. A second-team all-Summit League selection in 2018, Olmstead has pitched five-plus innings in eight of his nine starts, including taking a shutout into the ninth inning of his March 16 outing against Western Illinois.

Freshman Nic McCay has hurled at least six innings in five of his last seven outings, highlighted by a nine-inning, 11-strikeout shutout performance in the March 31 series finale against Purdue Fort Wayne in which he ran his record to 4-1. McCay's 11 strikeouts are tied for the most by a Jackrabbit pitcher this season. He also fanned 10 Western Illinois batters over seven innings on March 17 and ranks second on the squad with 60 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings.

McCay was the starting pitcher in the Jackrabbits' March 6 game at Alabama. He pitched the first two innings of the midweek game before turning the game over to the bullpen. In all, SDSU used 10 pitchers in the 6-5, 14-inning loss to the Crimson Tide, tying the mark for the most pitchers used in a Division I game this season.

Out of the bullpen, sophomore left-hander Bret Barnett has emerged as the top reliever on the staff. The Indianola, Iowa, native holds a 4-1 record with a 2.05 earned run average. He allowed only one run in his first 16 innings of the season over 10 appearances before suffering the loss in the April 5 series opener against Omaha. In leading the team with four saves, Barnett has struck out 25 batters — in 22 innings — and has limited the opposition to a .167 batting average (13-for-78).

FROOM MAKES COMEBACK: Ryan Froom completed the long road back from injury by making his first appearance in nearly two years in the Feb. 16 game against UT Martin.

A sixth-year senior, Froom struck out five, walked four and surrendered three hits over five innings in finishing with a no-decision. It marked Froom's appearance since March 25, 2017, at Oral Roberts, when he suffered an arm injury. He missed the remainder of the 2017 season and was granted an injury hardship. Froom also sat out the entire 2018 campaign before rejoining the team this past fall.

Froom got back into the win column March 2 as the Jackrabbits knocked off Missouri, 6-3. After giving up a run in the bottom of the first, Froom pitched four consecutive shutout frames before tiring in the sixth. He finished with a season-high six strikeouts, while allowing three runs on four hits with five walks in 5 2/3 innings.

Froom again recorded the victory in the second game of a March 9 doubleheader at UA Little Rock, going seven innings. He allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking four.

Froom has logged five or more innings in seven of his 10 starts this season to enter the week with a 4-3 record. He has notched 35 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings.

The Crystal, Minnesota, native became a mainstay in the Jackrabbit rotation starting with his sophomore season in 2015. He currently ranks in a tie for third place in program history with 44 games started and is fourth with 244 1/3 innings pitched, while moving into ninth place in career strikeouts with 161.

GOING DEEP: Through the first 35 games of the 2019 season, the Jackrabbits have hit 28 home runs, starting with a three-homer performance in the Feb. 15 season opener against UT Martin.

Ten different players have accounted for the Jackrabbit home runs, with Nick Smith joining the group April 19 versus Western Illinois. Josh Falk leads the team with eight homers, hitting five over his last 10 games. Gus Steiger and Drew Beazley have each hit four, while freshman backup catcher Ryan McDonald and Logan Holtz have hit three apiece.

Holtz and McDonald connected on back-to-back homers in the fifth inning of a Feb. 16 game against UT Martin. It was the first career home run for each and marked the second time in five games dating back to last season that the Jackrabbits hit consecutive home runs. Anthony Schneider and Tony Kjolsing led off a May 24 Summit League Baseball Championship game against Western Illinois with back-to-back homers.

SDSU hit a total of 10 home runs in its first six contests. The Jackrabbits then went 10 full games without a long ball until hitting three in the first three innings of the second game of a March 16 doubleheader against Western Illinois. Beazley notched his first career home run, while Steiger and Falk each hit their second round-trippers of the season.

PRESEASON POLL: South Dakota State was picked to finish second in the 2019 Summit League baseball race, according to a poll conducted among conference coaches that was announced Feb. 7 by league officials.

The Jackrabbits received one first-place vote, finishing with 21 points. Defending league champion Oral Roberts again paced the six-team race with five first-place votes and 25 points. North Dakota State completed the upper half of the poll with 17 points.

Rounding out the poll were: Western Illinois, 12 points; Omaha, 9 points, and Purdue Fort Wayne, 6 points.

The top four teams during the regular season will advance to the 2019 Summit League Baseball Championship, which is scheduled for May 22-25 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In addition, the Jackrabbits' Nick Smith and Brady Stover were recognized among the Summit League's top players to watch.

A two-time all-Summit League honoree, Smith has posted a batting average of better than .300 each of the past two seasons. Smith, a senior from Chanhassen, Minnesota, hit at a .303 clip with 18 runs batted in en route to first-team honors as a utility player in 2018.

Stover, a junior from Huxley, Iowa, posted a 3-2 record in 2018 with a 4.57 earned run average in 10 appearances, including nine starts. The left-hander struck out 63 batters in only 43.1 innings, setting an SDSU single-season record with an average of 13.09 strikeouts per nine innings. He also limited the opposition to a .203 batting average.

Stover began the year by striking out nine in five innings in the Feb. 15 season opener at UT Martin en route to Summit League Pitcher of the Week honors. He missed six weeks due to injury after a March 1 start at Central Arkansas and has since his return has made three appearances out of the bullpen, starting April 14 versus North Dakota State.

COACH BISHOP: Rob Bishop, who has guided college baseball teams to more than 600 career victories, was named head baseball coach at South Dakota State University on Aug. 1, 2016. Bishop is the ninth head coach in program history and the fourth in the Division I era.

Now in his third season with the Jackrabbits, Bishop holds a 63-74 record at SDSU, including a 40-29 mark in Summit League play.

In his first season, Bishop's 2017 squad returned to the winning side of the ledger with a 26-24 overall mark, including an 18-12 record for a third-place finish in The Summit League standings. SDSU won its opening-round game in the Summit League Baseball Championship, 6-5, over second-seeded North Dakota State.

In 2018, SDSU overcame a slow start to post a winning record in Summit League play at 14-13 and went on to reach the title game of the Summit League Baseball Championship. The Jackrabbits finished with an 18-32 overall record during a campaign in which they played only six home games.

Overall, Bishop holds a 612-394-1 record (.608 winning percentage) as a collegiate head coach. He recorded career win No. 600 March 10 at UA Little Rock and coached in his 1,000th collegiate game in the April 13 series opener versus North Dakota State.

Individually, Jackrabbit players have been honored as all-Summit League performers 10 times during his brief tenure, including six all-league selections in 2018. Utility player Nick Smith and third baseman Newt Johnson received all-Summit League recognition in both 2017 and 2018.

Prior to becoming head coach at SDSU, Bishop spent six years at NCAA Division II member Montana State University-Billings, where he led the Yellowjackets to back-to-back Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular season titles in 2015 and 2016, attaining the program's first-ever 30-win season with a 30-20 record in 2016. His squads also were honored as the top academic team in the GNAC each of his last three seasons.

Previously, Bishop spent 10 years at Miles City Community College in Montana, where his teams won MonDak conference championships every year. His squads also claimed five consecutive junior college region titles and a Northwest District championship in 2007 to advance to the NJCAA Division II College World Series. Bishop's teams won at least 30 games each of his 10 seasons, including four 40-win seasons. He ended his tenure at Miles City with a 377-151 overall record. He also served as athletic director his last five years at Miles City.

Bishop served as a graduate assistant at SDSU under head coach Mark Ekeland during the 1998 and 1999 seasons. In his first season as a head coach, Bishop led Huron University to the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference title in 2000 with a 38-18 record.

A 1994 graduate of Jamestown College, Bishop earned NAIA All-America honors during the 1992 and 1994 seasons as an infielder.

THE ROSTER: The 2019 SDSU baseball roster features 31 players from seven different states and one Canadian province. Of the 31 players, 11 are from Iowa, eight are from Minnesota and seven hail from South Dakota. Arizona, Nebraska, Washington and Wisconsin are represented by one player each, as is Manitoba.

By class, 10 are seniors, eight are juniors, four are sophomores, two are redshirt freshmen and seven are incoming freshmen.

A LOOK AHEAD: The Jackrabbits return to home action May 3-5 by hosting Purdue Fort Wayne in a three-game series at Erv Huether Field.

-GoJacks.com-