BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Baseball Field) - The Bemidji State baseball team was swept in a two-game series with the Fighting Sioux of the University of North Dakota Wednesday afternoon at the BSU Baseball Field. The Sioux outscored the Beavers 17-1 in game one and 8-1 in game two, to improve their record to 18-13 while dropping BSU’s record to 2-27.

Sophomore Bryant Salamone (Rockford, Ill.) got the start for BSU in game one and looked fresh from the start, sitting down the first three batters he faced, striking out two. However, the second inning would be a different story as Salamone faced 11 batters, giving up five runs. Salamone was replaced after 2.1 innings in which he allowed six runs and three walks while striking out three. With the lose, Salamone drops to 0-2 on the season with a 15.75 ERA.

Salamone was replaced by senior Nate Heim (Kelliher, Minn.). Heim would also go 2.1 inning and allowed five runs. The final 2.1 inning of the game were split between sophomore Josh Langlie (Thief River Falls, Minn.) and freshman Scott Sand (Sauk Rapids, Minn.). Langlie went 1.1 innings allowing six runs off of four hits. Sand pitched the seventh inning for BSU facing just three batters allowing no runs, sending two Sioux player back to the dougout via strikeout.

Senior Michael Nordyke (Ukiah, Calif.), who was hit in his first plate appearce of the day, was the only base runner Bemidji State had through 10 innings. Nordyke scored on a solo homerun to get the only run and the only hit for the Beavers in game one.

In game two Nordyke got a lead off hit in game two, but it wasn’t until the fourth inning that BSU began to gain some offensive momentum.

With one out in the bottom of the fourth junior John Grindeland (Moorhead, Minn.) was the first player other than Nordyke to reach base on a double to left-center field. Grindeland was later caught trying to steal third, costing BSU a possible run as senior Jason Podraza (Carter Lake, Iowa), the next batter, singled to center field. After stealing second, Podraza reached home on single from freshman Brian Martinka (Bemidji, Minn.).

Junior Dan Wagner (Campton, N.H.) started game two for BSU going 4.0 innings and allowing five runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout. Replacing Wagner was junior Mike Middendorf (Sauk Centre, Minn.). Middendorf pitched just two innings and only allowed one run. freshman Tony Meech (Sebeka, Minn.) came in to pitch the seventh inning for Bemidji State. Meech allowed two runs on two hits. Both Middendorf and Meech collected to strikeouts each.

Combined the BSU pitching staff gave up four home runs in the two-game series, three to UND’s Troy Wasiloski.

Bemidji State is back in action this weekend when it opens a four-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference series with Southwest Minnesota State. The Beavers and Mustangs will meet in a pair of double-headers scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 16 and noon on Sunday, April 17.


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