South Dakota State University’s baseball team has secured a spot in the NCAA Division I tournament, earning the No. 4 seed in the Lincoln Regional.
The Jackrabbits captured the Summit League championship, a title they had not held since 2013, by defeating Oral Roberts and Northern Colorado.
A milestone for the program
The achievement marks the first time the program has reached the national stage under its current coaching staff, turning a 24‑31 overall record into a narrative of resilience.
SDSU will open the regional against top‑seeded Nebraska on Friday at 3 p.m., sharing the bracket with Ole Miss and Arizona State.
Sophomore Nicholas Werk is batting .261 this season and drove in three runs during the championship game against Oral Roberts.
Senior Matthew Werk, a reliever, has not allowed an earned run in four of his last five appearances, providing a reliable arm late in games.
Brotherly impact
Coach Dave Buhl highlighted the siblings’ complementary roles, noting that Nicholas’s bat and Matthew’s pitching have helped the team overcome early‑season setbacks.
Their presence adds a compelling storyline to the regional, as the brothers aim to extend their season and make a deeper run in the tournament.