WINONA, Minn. (Loughrey Field) - The Bemidji State baseball team dropped a pair of games to the Winona State Warriors from Loughrey Field in Winona, Minn. The Warriors scored four unanswered runs in Game 1, then used a three-run third inning in Game 2 to complete a double-header sweep of Bemidji State. Winona State captured Game 1 by a score of 8-4, and capped the twin-bill with a 8-7 extra-inning win in Game 2.

Winona State pitcher Bryan Ruff allowed just one base runner through the first four innings of Game 1. The lone base runner for the Beaver, Rich Bohannan (Goodyear, Ariz.) reached on an error by Warrior third baseman Ryan Manske. Winona State on the other hand put up four runs through the games first four innings for a 4-0 lead going into the late innings.

The Warriors platted the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. A single to the pitcher by B.J. Samuelson scored Ryan Manske to put the Warriors up 1-0. The Warriors pushed its lead to four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Winona State scored three runs. A costly error by BSU shortstop Josh Silvernagel allowed the Warriors to put together two, two-out doubles to plate three runs in the inning. Ben Smothers hit the first double picking up one RBI and then the next batter Brett Maxwell followed with his own 2 RBI double to give the Warriors a 4-0 lead going into the top of the sixth.

The Beavers cut the Warrior lead in half in the top of the sixth when they were able to push two runs across. Ryan Bohannan (Goodyear, Ariz.) picked up the first RBI when he reached on a error by Winona State second baseman Ronnie Olson which allowed Eric Pilgrim (Park Rapids, Minn.) to score from third base. Rich Bohannan (Goodyear, Ariz.) platted the second Beaver run of the inning on a two out RBI single to the pitcher to score Shaun Corbett (Mora, Minn.) from third base to bring the Beavers within a two run deficit.

Winona State answered Bemidji State’s two run sixth with four runs of its own in the bottom of the sixth to push its lead to 8-2. Brett Maxwell ended any hoped of a Bemidji State comeback when he hit a three run homer to push the Warrior lead to 7-2. Ben Barrone picked up the Warriors fourth RBI in the inning.
The Beavers tried to mount a late inning comeback but came up short scoring just two runs in the top of the seventh inning. Dan Zielke (Richfield, Minn.) and Rich Bohannan (Goodyear, Ariz.) each had sacrifice fly balls that scored runners from third base for the Beavers two runs in the inning. That would not be enough and the Beavers fell by a score of 8-4.

Karl Willers (Slayton, Minn.) picked up the loss for the Beavers dropping his first game of the season. Willers record is now 1-1 on the season. Willers pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up six runs (three earned) on ten hits while striking out four Warrior batters. Casey Allar (Sartell, Minn.) came in and pitched 2/3 innings of relief, allowing two runs (two earned) on two hits with one strikeout.

Bryan Ruff picked up the win for the Warriors improving his record to 3-0 on the season. Ruff gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits with nine strikeouts. Lee Trocinski pitched one inning of relief allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with one strikeout.

Josh Juntunen (Elk River, Minn.) lead the Beavers going 2-for-4 at the plate. Rich Bohannan (Goodyear, Ariz.) was 1-for-2 with two RBI.

Game 2 saw the Warriors once again take a early lead in the first inning. Bemidji State pitcher Kevin Morel (Shoreview, Minn.) had trouble finding the plate and Dru Mickelson made it around the bases off three wild pitches. Bemidji State took its first lead of the day in the top of the second inning. Anthony Stoloski (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) led the inning off with a triple and then scored on a two out single to left field by Mike Wagner (Plymouth, N.H.). Wagner then scored all the way from first on a double by Ryan Bohannan (Goodyear, Ariz.). Winona State tied the game in the bottom of the second on a homer to left field by Tony Lubarsky.

Winona then pushed its lead to 5-2 when two of the Warriors first three batters in the third inning hit homeruns. Ben Barrone led the inning of with a home run to left field and then B.J. Samuelson hit a two run homer to left field to give the Warriors a three run lead.

Bemidji State regained the lead in the sixth when the Beavers scored four runs. Stoloski singled in Rich Bohannan (Goodyear, Ariz.) and Tony Samuelson (Pine City, Minn.) to bring the Beavers within one run. Mike Wagner tied the game up on a fielder’s choice, then Eric Pilgrim (Park Rapids, Minn.) put the Beavers ahead when he stole home.

The Warriors tied the game back up in the home half of the sixth on a single by Brett Maxwell. Just like the whole game the Beavers would have an answer and regained the lead in the top of the seventh. Stoloski came through for his third RBI of the game to give the Beavers a one run lead going into Winona State’s final at bats. Mike Wendlund was the hero for the Warriors hitting a double to center field that allowed the runner from first to score and once again tie the contest up.

The Warriors scored the game winning run in the bottom of the eight inning. Ben Barrone hit the game winning single scoring Ronnie Olson from third to help the Warriors escape and take a 8-7 win from the Beavers.

Josh Juntunen (Elk River, Minn.) took the loss dropping to 0-5 on the season. Juntunen pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief giving up two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Starter Kevin Morel pitched 3.0 innings allowing five runs on seven hits with two strikeouts. Bryan Buhr (Frazee, Minn.) made the other relief appearance for the Beavers pitching 3.0 innings and giving up one run (zero earned) on one hit.

Ben Barrone improved his record to 1-1 with the win. He pitched 1.0 inning of relief giving up no runs on one hit with three strikeouts. Starter Donny Erdall pitched 5 1/3 innings giving up six runs on five hits with six strikeouts and four walks. Jim Kovacs made the other relief appearance, pitching 1 2/3 innings allowing one run on three hits and two strikeouts.

Anthony Stoloski led the offensive charge for the Beavers going 3-for-4 with three RBI and scoring two runs in the extra inning loss.

Bemidji State (3-21; 1-5 NSIC) will wrap up its four game set with Winona State tomorrow afternoon. Game 1 of the doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. from Loughrey Field in Winona, Minn.).

--beavers--