Sioux Falls Fall Report: Cougars Ready to Roar After Positive 2025 Campaign

Entering his 10th season at the helm, Head Coach Grant Hieb has the University of Sioux Falls baseball program trending in uncharted territory. The 2025 campaign was a watershed moment for the Cougars, who finished with a 32-28 record, marking the program’s first season above .500 since joining Division II in 2012. More importantly, Sioux Falls surged when it mattered most, securing a program-best third-place finish in the NSIC Tournament. That postseason run, which included a high-scoring 16-11 victory over St. Cloud State, has dramatically altered the internal atmosphere. With 60.6% of last year’s total production returning, including a staggering 74.4% of the innings pitched, the expectations in Sioux Falls have shifted from simply making the tournament to legitimately contending for an NSIC title.

The Offense

While the lineup must replace significant power, the Cougars return a solid core that accounted for over half of last season's offensive production. Leading the charge is team captain Mitchell Iliff, who is poised to anchor the middle of the order. A consistent force at the plate, the junior first baseman and outfielder is coming off a campaign where he logged a .378 average in 209 ABs with 17 doubles, 11 HR, and 50 RBI. His ability to drive the ball was elite, finishing the year ranked seventh in the conference in batting average and ninth in home runs.

Setting the table ahead of Iliff will be a pair of dynamic seniors. Dominic Vogel returns to the leadoff spot after a successful transfer season. In 231 ABs, he hit .307 with 11 doubles, 2 HR, and 33 RBI, providing a steady on-base presence while splitting time between left field and catcher. He is joined in the outfield by Nolan Drossel, a speedster who successfully converted from the infield to earn NSIC All-Defensive Team honors. Drossel was a spark plug at the bottom of the order, and in 196 ABs, he hit .337 with 10 doubles and 20 RBI, using his legs to swipe 11 bases.

The outfield also welcomes back Will Edwards, who is looking to rebound from an injury-shortened season. Despite missing time, he remained productive, and in 112 ABs, he hit .295 with 4 HR and 26 RBI. Coach Hieb noted that Edwards looked fully healthy this fall, flashing the potential for a breakout senior year.

To bolster the lineup, the coaching staff tapped into the transfer portal, specifically targeting bats from Dakota County Technical College (DCTC). Colin Gibson, a transfer who also spent time at South Dakota State University, brings a potent bat that slashed .438/.572/.850 at the junior college level in 2024 at DCTC. He will be joined by Brady Schafer, another DCTC product expected to provide immediate power at first base; Schafer slashed .320/.444/.673 with 10 HR and 51 RBI last spring. Behind the dish, Justin Johnson arrives from Limestone University via DCTC to provide veteran leadership and a bat that hit .313 in 2024.

The Pitching Staff

The true strength of the 2026 Cougars lies in the continuity of their pitching staff, which returns every starter and the majority of the bullpen. The staff is headlined by senior right-hander Jake Ammann, who is projected to be the ace. Ammann features a fastball in the low 90s paired with a plus breaking ball, and although his surface numbers show a 6-4 record with a 8.05 ERA in 66.0 IP, his ability to miss bats was evident with 74 strikeouts.

Joining him in the rotation is Logan Anderson, a senior righty who has developed steadily throughout his career. Anderson posted a 5-5 record with a 6.93 ERA in 61.0 IP last season, utilizing an upper-80s to low-90s fastball and a mix of offspeed pitches. From the left side, junior Brady Baur offers a different look with a plus fastball. He showed flashes of dominance with wins over regional powers Minnesota State and Augustana, finishing with a 3-4 record with a 8.37 ERA in 43.0 IP.

The staff's depth is bolstered by Jake Pruchniak and the versatile Myles Rees. Pruchniak was arguably the team's most effective pitcher for stretches of 2025, compiling a 3-3 record with a 6.42 ERA in 33.2 IP behind a sharp 12-6 curveball. Rees, a two-way talent who also plays the infield, was lights out when healthy, posting a 4-0 record with a 2.79 ERA in 29.0 IP. His return to full health, alongside lefty Owen Weadge, gives Sioux Falls envious depth. Weadge posted a 0-2 record with a 11.05 ERA in 14.2 IP while recovering from surgery but looked sharp this fall.

Newcomers Taylor Morrissette and Cooper Sanders, both transfers from DCTC, will add immediate innings. Morrissette brings an 11-5 career junior college record, while Sanders struck out 39 batters in 29.2 innings last spring, providing a swing-and-miss option out of the bullpen.

Key Departures

While the future is bright, the Cougars must replace the production of three All-NSIC caliber players. The most significant loss is Jaxon Haase, a Second Team All-NSIC selection who provided massive power at third base. In 149 ABs, Haase hit .282 with 17 doubles, 17 HR, and 48 RBI, finishing fourth in the conference in home runs. The infield defense also takes a hit with the graduation of Isaac Bonner and Noah Christenson, both of whom were named to the NSIC All-Defensive Team. Bonner was also an offensive catalyst, earning Second Team All-NSIC honors after a season where in 199 ABs he hit .377 with 12 doubles, 7 HR, and 50 RBI.

Schedule & Outlook

Sioux Falls will be tested immediately when they open the season on February 13 against Washburn in Topeka, Kansas, as part of a four-game round-robin-type slate that also includes regional team MSU Denver. The non-conference slate is highlighted by a challenging Florida trip in early March, featuring a matchup against Wilmington University (Del.) on March 4th, a team that went 37-22 and claimed the CACC Tournament Championship in 2025, in Florida. Then, the Cougars will go to Florida Tech for a weekend set March 6-8.

The grind of the NSIC begins on February 21st against UMary. The Cougars' title credentials will be put to the test in late March and April with critical series against perennial contenders. They host Minnesota Duluth starting March 28 and welcome the defending NSIC Champion Minnesota State, who finished 51-8 and hosted the Central Regional, for a doubleheader on March 31. Another marquee matchup looms in late April when the Cougars host rival Augustana, a 39-win team from a year ago. If the pitching staff holds form and the new bats integrate quickly, Sioux Falls is well-positioned to make some noise in the NSIC.

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