Jackrabbits host Purdue Fort Wayne

Friday, May 3

Brookings, S.D.

3 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Purdue Fort Wayne

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia Sports Media

5/2/2019 9:59:00 AM | Baseball

Games 39-41: Purdue Fort Wayne (5-36, 0-21 Summit) at South Dakota State (21-17, 13-8 Summit)

When	Friday, May 3 • 3 p.m. \| Saturday, May 4 • 1 p.m. \| Sunday, May 5 • 1 p.m.
Where	Erv Huether Field \| Brookings, S.D.
TV	None
Radio	GoJacks.com/Watch
Live Stats	GoJacksLive.com
Game Notes	South Dakota State \| Purdue Fort Wayne \| The Summit League
Social Media	Twitter \| Instagram \| #RAB5

The South Dakota State University baseball team will attempt to move a step or two closer to a berth in the Summit League postseason tournament as it hosts Purdue Fort Wayne in a three-game weekend series at Erv Huether Field.

First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. Friday. Games Saturday and Sunday are slated for 1 p.m. starts. Audio coverage of all three games, with Tyler Merriam calling the play-by-play, will be available through GoJacks.com/watch.

The Jackrabbits enter the weekend with a 21-17 overall record and are tied with Oral Roberts for second in the league standings at 13-8. SDSU has won six of seven Summit League series so far this season, including winning two of three games at league-leading Omaha last weekend.

Purdue Fort Wayne, meanwhile, is still in search of its first Summit League win of the year. The Mastodons are 0-21 in league play and 5-36 overall.

The top four teams in the Summit regular season standings will advance to the Summit League Baseball Championship May 22-25 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

THE SERIES: South Dakota State and Purdue Fort Wayne will play for the 70th time when the two squads meet in Friday's series opener. The Jackrabbits hold a 55-14 advantage in the series that dates back to 2006, when both schools competed as Division I independents.

SDSU has won 13 of the last 14 games against the Mastodons, including sweeping a three-game series earlier this season.

The Jackrabbits swept a March 29 doubleheader in Fort Wayne, Indiana, winning by scores of 5-4 and 12-2. In the opener, SDSU broke a 4-all tie with an unearned run in the top of the eighth, then carried the momentum over to Game 2 by scoring a run in six of seven innings as the 10-run rule was put into effect.

Landon Badger paced the SDSU offense in Game 2 with three hits, three runs batted in and two runs scored, highlighted by a two-run double in the third inning and an RBI single in the fifth.

SDSU hurler Ryan Froom improved to 3-1 on the season with a six-inning start in which he struck out six and walked three. Brett Mogen pitched a perfect seventh inning to close out the victory.

The series finale was moved to Notre Dame's Frank Eck Stadium on March 31 due to inclement weather and unplayable field conditions in Fort Wayne. The change in venue didn't faze Jackrabbit freshman Nic McCay, who struck 11 batters en route to an 8-0 complete-game shutout.

McCay retired 12 Mastodon hitters in a row in a stretch between the final out of the third inning and the first two outs of the seventh. While walking only one and scattering seven hits (all singles), McCay struck out the side in the first inning and tallied at least one strikeout in every frame except the sixth in recording his fourth win of the season.

Badger was again the hitting star for SDSU as he went 3-for-3 for the second game in a row, including a two-run triple in the fourth inning that pushed the Jackrabbit lead to 5-0. The Jackrabbits finished with 12 hits, including two each by Beazley, Logan Holtz and Josh Falk.

LAST WEEK: Following are some notes from the Jackrabbits' series win against Omaha:

SDSU scored first in all three games of the series;
The Jackrabbits recorded their second shutout of the season as Ryan Froom (five innings), Brett Mogen (1 2/3 innings) and Bret Barnett (2 1/3 innings) combined on a five-hit shutout April 27;
Barnett has pitched two or more innings to record each of his last three saves;
SDSU evened its record in extra-inning games this season at 2-2 by closing out the series April 28 with a 6-4, 13-inning victory;
Jackrabbit pitchers combined for 16-plus scoreless innings before Omaha scored in the eighth inning of the series finale;
Six SDSU pitchers combined for a season-high 16 strikeouts in the April 28 series finale, while Omaha hurlers tallied a total of 19 strikeouts;
Austin Suhr made only his second appearance of the season in the series finale, but picked up his second win of the year — both of which have come in extra-inning games played in Omaha (April 14 versus North Dakota State was the other).

McCAY HONORED AGAIN: For the second time this season, SDSU freshman Nic McCay has been honored as Summit League Pitcher of the Week, receiving his latest award April 29.

Although he finished with a no-decision in a game the Jackrabbits eventually won 6-4 in 13 innings, McCay dominated league-leading Omaha in his April 28 start. McCay shut out the Mavericks over seven innings, allowing only one hit while matching a career high with 11 strikeouts. He recorded at least one strikeout in each of the first six innings, including fanning the side in both the second and sixth frames.

A right-hander fromCarlisle, Iowa, McCay also received the weekly award April 1 after pitching a complete-game shutout with 11 strikeouts a day earlier against Purdue Fort Wayne.

For the season, McCay has posted a 4-1 record with a 4.18 earned run average.

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 .264 with 17 runs batted in. The Johnston, Iowa, native has seen action both in the field and on the mound for the Jackrabbits, seeing most of recent playing time at first base. He is hitting .294 in Summit League play, going 20-for-68 with seven doubles, all four of his home runs and 14 runs batted in, while posting a .574 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 37 of 38 games this season, mostly at third base. He ranks second on the team with 14 multi-hit games while batting .252 overall and ranking third on the squad with 24 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 .318 average, 14 stolen bases and 33 runs batted in. He has reached base safely in 33 games in a row, which ranks as the fifth-longest streak in the program's Division I history (since 2005).

With hits in 28 games during his current streak, Steiger is batting .336 (50-for-149) with 12 doubles, four home runs and 30 runs batted in. He has collected two or more hits in 15 of the 33 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 119 assists in compiling a .952 fielding percentage.

FALK HEATING UP: Junior Josh Falk has been on a tear at the plate as he has racked up nine extra-base hits over the last 13 games.

In the month of April, Falk batted .360 (18-for-50) and posted a .740 slugging percentage with five home runs and four doubles while splitting time between first base and designated hitter. Falk recorded five multi-hit games and drove in 14 runs in that span, highlighted by a four-RBI performance in Game 1 of the April 20 doubleheader versus Western Illinois.

The Minnetonka, Minnesota, native had his season-best seven-game hitting streak snapped in the April 28 series finale at Omaha. He hit home runs in three of the games during the streak, 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 is making a late run to join a select group of Jackrabbits who have compiled 200 career hits.

The Chanhassen, Minnesota, native enters the week with 180 career hits, 20 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 17 hits (17-for-44) over the last 11 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 in a tie for seventh all-time at SDSU with 100 career bases on balls. This season, Smith has drawn a team-best 35 walks while striking out only 16 times in 170 plate appearances.

A CALL TO ARMS: South Dakota State starting pitchers have thrown at least five innings in 27 of the team's 38 games so far this season, including 18 of 21 Summit League contests.

Junior Tyler Olmstead has taken over the No. 1 starter's role in recent weeks and has tallied 66 strikeouts in 68 innings. A second-team all-Summit League selection in 2018, Olmstead has pitched into the seventh inning in all seven of his Summit League 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 six of his last eight 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 matched his 11-strikeout performance in seven one-hit innings at Omaha on April 28. He currently leads the team with 71 strikeouts in 64 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 1.85 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 five saves, Barnett has struck out 27 batters — in 24 1/3 innings — and has limited the opposition to a .153 batting average (13-for-85).

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 eight of his 11 starts this season to enter the week with a team-best five wins against three losses. He has notched 40 strikeouts in 55 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 third place in program history with 45 games started and is fourth with 249 1/3 innings pitched, while moving into a tie for seventh place in career strikeouts with 166.

GOING DEEP: Through the first 38 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 13 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 since his return has made four 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 65-73 record at SDSU, including a 42-30 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 614-395-1 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: South Dakota State will make its second trip to Minneapolis this season for a rematch against Minnesota on May 7. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at Siebert Field on the University of Minnesota campus.

From there, the Jackrabbits return to Brookings to close out the home portion of their schedule by hosting Oral Roberts in a three-game series May 10-12 at Erv Huether Field.

-GoJacks.com-