BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Baseball Field) -
The Wayne State College Wildcats swept the weekend series
with Bemidji State today taking the final two games in doubleheader
action at the BSU Baseball Field this afternoon. Wayne State
came back from a 4-0 deficit to take Game 1, 5-4 and completed
the weekend sweep with a 4-2 win in Game 2.
Bemidji State struck first as the Beavers scored four runs
in the bottom of the first to take a 4-0 lead in Game 1. Lead-off
batter Rich Bohannan (Goodyear, Ariz.) started things off
with a walk and P.J. McIntee (Randolph, Minn.) followed with
a single to left field to give the Beavers runners on first
and second with no one out in the inning. Josh Juntunen (Elk
River, Minn.) cleared the bases on a three-run homer over
the right field wall to give the Beavers a 3-0 lead. The homerun
was Juntunen’s third homerun of the season. Eric Pilgrim
(Park Rapids, Minn.) started the rally back up again when
he drew a walk and then scored on a RBI double by Anthony
Stoloski (Half Moon Bay, Calif.). Stoloski’s double
was his eight of the season and the RBI was his team leading
23rd RBI.
Wayne State cut the Beavers lead in half in the fifth inning
on a homerun by Sean Soderberg. Wayne State used the long
ball once again in the sixth inning to take it’s first
lead of the game at 5-4. The Beavers made a pitching change
with runners on first and second with one out in the inning.
Juntunen replaced starting pitcher Chad Schwegel (St. Joseph,
Minn.). The first pitch that was delivered by Juntunen was
a three run homerun over the left field wall by designated
hitter Alex Koch.
Both teams went down quietly in the seventh inning and the
Wildcats were able to hold onto the comeback victory to take
Game 1, 5-4.
Senior pitcher Chad Schwegel (St. Joseph, Minn.) made his
last start at home for the Beavers pitching, 5.1 innings allowing
four runs (four earned) on five hits. Juntunen made the lone
relief appearance surrendering one run (one earned) on one
hit in 1.2 innings of work. Juntunen took the loss, dropping
his record to 0-9 on the season.
John Snyder pitched a complete game for the Wildcats. After
a rough first inning Snyder allowed just three Beaver hits
in the final six innings. Snyder allowed four runs (four earned)
on six hits with five strikeouts. Snyder’s record saw
his record move to 7-0 on the season.
Juntunen was 1-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored for
the Beavers.
The Wildcats jumped on the board early in Game 2. Dustin Jones
led the game off with his ninth homerun of the season to give
Wayne State a early 1-0 advantage. Marc Manganaro drove in
the second run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center
field that allowed Adam Hoffman to score from third base.
The Beavers cut the Wildcat lead in half in the bottom of
the second inning. Senior Nick Noack (Hudson, Wis.) started
the Bemidji State rally on a single down the left field line.
Josh Silvernagel (Bismarck, N.D.) drove Noack in on a two
out double to left center field to bring the Beavers within
one run at 2-1.
Wayne State pushed it’s lead to 4-1 in the third inning.
Marc Manganaro drove in his second run of the ball game on
a ground out to the shortstop and Ian Delaet platted the second
run of the inning on a RBI single to center field.
Bemidji State pushed it’s second run of the ball game
across in the fifth inning. P.J. McIntee (Randolph, Minn.)
picked up a two out RBI single to right field scoring Silvernagel
from second base to bring the Beavers within striking distance
at 4-2.
The Beavers loaded the bases in the top of the sixth inning
but was unable to push a run across. Wayne State shut the
door on the BSU offense in the seventh inning and was able
to hold on to a 4-2 win in Game 2.
Senior pitcher Josh Langlie (Thief River Falls, Minn.) also
made his last start at home for the Beavers, going 4.0 innings
allowing four runs (four earned) on seven hits. Tony Meech
(Menahga, Minn.) and Kevin Morel (Shoreview, Minn.) made relief
appearances and combined for no runs on six hits in 3.0 innings
of work; Meech pitched 1.1 innings allowing just four hits,
while Morel went 1.2 innings, giving up two hits with one
strikeout. Langlie took the loss falling to 0-7 on the season.
Connor Bramlet pitched 5.0 solid innings for the Wildcats
allowing both Beaver runs on four hits with two strikeouts.
Jim Sake and Ryan Kolo made relief appearances for Wayne State.
Sake pitched 0.2 innings allowing just one hit and Kolo went
1.1 innings with two strikeouts. With the win Bramlet’s
record moved to 6-0 and Kolo picked up his first save of the
year for Wayne State.
McIntee and Silvernagel led the Beavers at the plate in Game
2. McIntee was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Silvernagel went 1-for-2
with one RBI and a run scored.
Bemidji State (6-41 / 4-22 NSIC) will wrap up it’s conference
schedule next weekend on May 5th and 6th as the Beavers will
travel to Crookston, Minn. to take on the University of Minnesota,
Crookston Golden Eagles. Saturday’s doubleheader is
slated for a 1:30 p.m. start and Sunday’s contest will
start a 12:00 p.m.
--beavers--
