The Bemidji State University baseball team needed late-game runs to earn a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader sweep of University of Minnesota Crookston Tuesday at BSU Baseball Field. BSU scored twice in the seventh for a walk-off 5-4 win in game one and three runs in the seventh in game two for a 3-2 victory.
Game 1
Trailing 4-3 entering the decisive seventh frame, the Beavers (18-15, 12-8 NSIC) scored on a no outs error by the Golden Eagles (1-37, 0-26 NSIC) pitcher on a sacrifice bunt attempt by freshman Bo Schmitz (C, St. Cloud, Minn.). BSU then loaded the bases and got a big one-out hit from eight-hole hitter, freshman Collin Eckman (INF, Little Falls, Minn.), to escape a game one loss.
The Golden Eagles ended the day of BSU starter Tyler Saeugling (Jr., RHP, Dubuque, Iowa) in the sixth, as they scored two runs to gain a 3-2 the advantage. Junior Drake Huggans (RHP/OF, Greenley, Colo.) gave up the hit that scored the two runs, then allowed another base knock and UMC opened a 4-2 lead.
The Beavers got one back in the bottom half on a senior Chad Hanson (OF, St. Paul, Minn.) single to right that plated senior outfielder Cole Bjorge (Prior Lake, Minn.) from second on a close play at the plate. The run cut the deficit in half and set-up the seventh inning excitement.
Hanson and Eckman each tallied two hits, while Hanson recorded an RBI and a run scored. Sophomore Tyler Nelson (INF, Hayfield, Minn.) went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to six. He also plated a run.
Huggans (2-1) got the win after allowing a run on three hits with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched. Saeugling finished the day allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
Game 2
The Beavers outhit the Golden Eagles in game two 8-7, but needed the late runs to earn the victory again. Sophomore Joey Hanowski (INF/OF, Little Falls, Minn.) went 2-for-3 with a walk and a double, while Schmitz also recorded two hits. Nelson recorded a hit to make seven straight games with at least one hit.
Sophomore lefty Nate Heisick (Plymouth, Minn.) earned the victory in two relief innings where he allowed one unearned run on three hits with four strikeouts.
UMC struck first again in game two with a run in the fourth and led 1-0 all the way through six and a half innings of play.
The Beavers finally got on the board when nine-hole hitter Jake Braun (Fr., INF, Lakeville, Minn.) lifted a bases loaded pitch to deep left field to score Bjorge from third on the sacrifice. Hanson then delivered the go-ahead swing, as he laced a pitch the opposite way to left field to score two on the double and hand the Beavers a 3-1 lead through seven.
The Golden Eagles cut the deficit in half in the eighth with a single run to move the score 3-2, but Huggans came into the game in the ninth and closed the door, picking up his seventh save of the season, getting a 1-2-3 frame.
The Beavers now turn their attention to the road for the next six games, starting with nationally-ranked St. Cloud State University April 26-27. Both NSIC doubleheaders are set to begin at 12 p.m.