Center fielder Logan Riedel made his mark at the plate and on the mound Sunday in the Bemidji State University baseball team’s 17-16 win against William Jewell College. The junior finished with six RBI and struck out one batter in two innings on the hill during his effort in a comeback effort for the Beavers (2-7, 0-0 NSIC) in the seventh inning against the Cardinals (6-5, 0-0 GLVC).
Riedel helped the Beavers begin the scoring early as the team put four runs across the plate in the top half of the first inning. Riedel doubled to center field to drive in two runs while First baseman Mason Bellew singled to center field to drive in the fourth run of the inning.
Left fielder Scott Litchy hit his second triple of the season and drove in one run to break a 4-4 tie in the top of the second inning. After the Cardinals took a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the third, the Beavers took advantage of two doubles by Bellew and right fielder Tyler Nelson to tie the game again. Bemidji State made a comeback again in the fifth inning off a hit by pitch with the bases loaded and a two-RBI single for Riedel, his fifth RBI of the day, to tie the game at 10-10.
Facing an 11-10 deficit in the seventh inning, an error by the Cardinals allowed the Beavers to tie the game at 11. Riedel followed with a fielder’s choice to take the lead with one RBI. Bellew, with runners on the corners and no outs, followed Riedel’s sixth RBI of the day with a double to right field to send home two RBIs. Eckman added to the lead with no outs after singling up the middle to drive in Bellew.
The Beavers added seven runs in the top of the seventh inning to regain the lead. Second baseman Duance Miller reached base on an error to drive in the game-tying run before Riedel and Bellew hit a fielder’s choice and a double, respectively, to take a 14-11 lead. Shortstop Collin Eckman, third baseman Joey Hanowski and Nelson each drove in one RBI before finishing the top of the seventh with a 17-11 advantage.
Left-handed pitcher and Riedel closed out the game from the mound to preserve the 17-16 win. Heisick (1-0), Herd and Petray finished with two strikeouts each while Riedel added one after throwing for the final two innings. Heisick went 1.2 innings with three hits for his first win of the season. Riedel led the Beavers with six RBI and hit two doubles on the day. Each Bemidji State batter recorded a hit and four totaled multiple RBI. BSU went 12-of-22 with 10 RBI at the plate with two outs.
Bemidji State returns to action during its spring trip March 12 at Oklahoma City University. The spring trip will extend from March 12-18 as BSU will face five opponents in four states.