Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State baseball team is set for seven games in six days at the 2022 RussMatt Invitational in central Florida. They will face six different NCAA Division II opponents during the trip, including fellow NSIC member Minnesota Crookston.

GAME & FAN INFORMATION

• Live stats are available for games against D'Youville, Lewis, and Grand Valley State
• Live video is available through the RussMatt App - "Event Live+" for games against West Virginia Wesleyan, D'Youville, Malone, and Grand Valley State

NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES

• Northern State enters the week with a record of 2-5 on the season
• The Wolves last played February 19-21 in a 4-game series at Washburn, where the Ichabods took three of four games
• The lone Northern State win at Washbrun was a 5-2 victory; Max Otto went seven innings on the mound, allowing six hits and two walks, while throwing nine strikeouts
• Otto's win earned him NSIC Pitcher of the Week on February 22^nd, he improved to 2-0 on the season and has recorded an ERA of 1.50
• In relief Michael Chevalier has recorded an ERA of 0.00, allowing two hits and throwing seven strikeouts in 4.0 innings pitched; Andrew Pugliano has also recorded an ERA of 1.23 in relief, allowing six hits and one walk, while throwing six strikeouts in 7.1 innings pitched
• Niko Pezonella leads the team in hitting with a batting average of .333, with eight hits, two doubles, one homerun, six RBI, and four runs scored; Spencer Sarringar is the only other player to have a batting average over .300 with an average of .321, with nine hits, one double, two RBI, and three runs scored
• Northern is hitting .251 with 60 hits, 15 doubles, six homeruns, 33 RBI, and 36 runs scored
• NSU's pitching staff has recorded an ERA of 6.56, allowing 65 hits and 27 walks, while throwing 53 strikeouts; opponents hold a batting average of .281 against NSU pitchers

WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN STORYLINES – WEDNESDAY DOUBLEHEADER (9 AM & 11 AM)

• West Virginia Wesleyan holds a record of 0-4 on the season
• The Bobcats dropped their first four games of the season at the RussMatt Invitational to Findlay (11-3 & 4-2), Lewis (11-7), and St. Cloud State (4-1)
• WVWC is hitting .266 with 29 hits, three doubles, one homerun, ten RBI, and 13 runs scored
• Their pitching staff has recorded an ERA of 6.58, allowing 36 hits and 19 walks, while throwing 20 strikeouts; opponents hold a batting average of .324 against WVWC pitchers
• Devin Johnson leads the team in hitting percentage at .571 with four hits, a double, and two runs scored; Eli Brogan is one of three pitchers on the team with an ERA of 0.00, allowing only one hit in 2.2 innings pitched and throwing one strikeout
• Lee Bradley enters his first season as the head coach at West Virginia Wesleyan, he has compiled a career record of 83-112 following four seasons at the University of Charleston

LOOKING BACK TO 2019

• The last time that Northern State and West Virginia Wesleyan played was on March 2, 2019, when the teams split a doubleheader in Winter Haven, Florida; the Bobcats won game one 11-1, and the Wolves won game two 4-1
• The all-time series is tied 1-1

D'YOUVILLE STORYLINES – THURSDAY (4 PM)

• D'Youville holds a record of 4-2 on the season
• The Saints opened their trip to the RussMatt Invitational with a sweep of University of the Sciences (9-2 & 10-6) followed by a loss to Minnesota State (9-4) on Monday
• DYU is hitting .347 with 67 hits, 17 doubles, six triples, three homeruns, 43 RBI, and 56 runs scored
• Their pitching staff has recorded an ERA of 4.91, allowing 44 hits and 26 walks, while throwing 44 strikeouts; opponents hold a batting average of .256 against DYU pitchers
• Alec Boucher leads the team with a .609 batting average, with 14 hits, two doubles, five triples, ten RBI, and four runs scored
• Kyle McLain is in his fourth season as the head coach at D'Youville, he holds a career record of 8-60
• This is the first ever meeting between Northern State and D'Youville

LEWIS STORYLINES – FRIDAY (9 AM)

• Lewis holds a record of 2-6 on the season
• The Flyers opened their trip to the RussMatt Invitation with victories over West Virginia Wesleyan (11-7) and Concordia-St. Paul (4-1) prior to losing to Minnesota Crookston (7-4)
• LU is hitting .231 with 62 hits, 11 doubles, two triples, two homeruns, 36 RBI, and 40 runs scored
• Their pitching staff has recorded an ERA of 5.91, allowing 65 hits and 44 walks, while throwing 83 strikeouts; opponents hold a batting average of .257 against LU pitchers
• Cherokee Lebeau leads the team with a .407 batting average, with 11 hits, one double, four RBI, and six runs scored; Matt Helwig is one of five pitchers to record an ERA of 0.00, allowing only one hit and two walks in 6.1 innings pitched, and throwing 12 strikeouts
• Mike Vucsko is in his first season as the head coach at Lewis, he holds a career record of 2-6
• This is the first ever meeting between Northern State and Lewis

MALONE STORYLINES – SATURDAY (5:45 PM)

• Malone holds a record of 7-4 on the season
• The Pioneers opened their trip to the RussMatt Invitational with two victories over Northwood (5-0 & 13-3), but have since dropped their last three games to Gannon (21-10), University of the Sciences (11-1), and Concordia-St. Paul (8-7)
• MU is hitting .321 with 98 hits, 20 doubles, three triples, three homeruns, 67 RBI, and 79 runs scored
• Their pitching staff has recorded an ERA of 5.82, allowing 85 hits and 54 walks, while throwing 80 strikeouts; opponents hold a batting average of .284 against MU pitchers
• JC Philippi leads the team with a .464 batting average, with 13 hits, seven doubles, one homerun, nine RBI, and seven runs scored; Michael Cook holds a record of 3-0 on the mound and has an ERA of 2.81, allowing 14 hits and five walks in 16.0 innings pitched, and throwing 15 strikeouts
• Tom Crank is in his 19^th season as the head coach at Malone, he holds a career record of 531-379-41

LOOKING BACK TO 2017

• Northern State and Malone last played on March 8 and 10 of 2017 in the Tucson Invitation in Tucson, Arizona; the Pioneers defeated the Wolves in both games 5-3 and 18-3
• Malone leads the all-time series 10-4

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON STORYLINES – SUNDAY (1:30 PM)

• Minnesota Crookston holds a record of 6-9 on the season
• The Golden Eagles opened their trip to the RussMatt Invitational with a loss to Saginaw Valley State (3-1) and rebounded with a win against Lewis (7-4)
• UMC is hitting .239 with 111 hits, 22 doubles, three triples, ten homeruns, 74 RBI, and 80 runs scored
• Their pitching staff has recorded an ERA of 5.69, allowing 132 hits and 43 walks, while throwing 109 strikeouts; opponents hold a batting average of .293 against UMC pitchers
• Jake Hjelle is the top batter with an ERA of .321, with 18 hits, three doubles, one triple, five homeruns, 17 RBI, and 14 runs scored; Jake Dykhoff holds a record of 2-1 on the mound and has an ERA of 0.50, allowing nine hits and two walks in 18.0 innings pitched, and throwing 24 strikeouts
• Steve Gust is in his eighth season as the head coach at Minnesota Crookston, he holds a career record of 278-301

LOOKING BACK TO 2021

• Northern State and Minnesota Crookston last played on April 28, 2021, when the No. 24 Golden Eagles picked up two wins in a midweek double header by scores of 9-6 and 14-3
• Northern State leads the all-time series 48-15

GRAND VALLEY STATE STORYLINES – MONDAY (1 PM)

• Grand Valley State holds a record of 3-1 on the season
• The Lakers opening game of the RussMatt Invitational on Monday against No. 21 Augustana was postponed in the eighth inning due to rain, the game was tied 4-4
• GVSU is hitting .226 with 31 hits, six doubles, three triples, six homeruns, 27 RBI, and 36 runs scored
• Their pitching staff has recorded an ERA of 4.09, allowing 32 hits and 12 walks, while throwing 51 strikeouts; opponents hold a batting average of .246 against GVSU pitchers
• Key players: Spencer Nelson, Ben Thomas, and Collin Bradley
• Jamie Detillion is in his tenth season as the head coach at Grand Valley State, he holds a career record of 259-161-2

LOOKING BACK TO 2007

• Northern State and Grand Valley State last met on March 5, 2007, in a neutral site match-up in Joplin, Missouri; the Lakers earned a 15-6 victory in the game
• Grand Valley State leads the all-time series 2-0