ABERDEEN, S.D. (Fossum Field) -- Bemidji State split a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference baseball double-header with the Northern State Wolves this afternoon, using strong starting pitching to capture a 5-1 win in the opener and then saw Northern State plate all four of its runs in the third for a 4-2 win in the nightcap.

The Beavers pounded out fourteen hits in Game 1 and rode a solid pitching performance from Josh Juntunen (Jr., Elk River, Minn.) to extend its winning streak to three games for the second time this season. BSU got on the board first in the opener as the Beavers platted three runs in their first at bats of the double-header.

Justin Huether (Jr., Brainerd, Minn.) led the game off with a single to left field and then came around to score on Josh Silvernagel’s (Jr., Bismarck, N.D.) second double of the season to give BSU an early 1-0 advantage. Silvernagel advanced to third on a passed ball and scored off a RBI ground out by Shaun Corbett (Jr., Mora, Minn.) to push BSU’s lead to 2-0. Anthony Stoloski (Sr., Half Moon Bay, Calif.) scored the Beavers third run of the inning off a passed ball.

The Beavers pushed their lead to 5-0 as they platted a single run in both the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth inning the Beavers loaded the bases with no outs but was only able to push one run across as Silvernagel scored on an infield hit by Rich Bohannan (Sr., Goodyear, Ariz.) to give BSU a 4-0 advantage.

In the sixth, BSU would once again load the bases, this time with one out but could only produce one run. Corbett picked up his second RBI of the game to give BSU a 5-0 lead. Northern State broke up the shutout in the sixth as Andrew Lunsetter led the inning off with a double to right field. Lunsetter advanced to third on a error by BSU catcher Stoloski and then scored when the Beavers gave up the run to turn a six-four-three double-play.

BSU shutdown the NSU offense in the seventh and held on for the 5-1 win. Juntunen picked up his fourth win of the season as he worked all seven innings allowing one run (one earned) off four hits with five strikeouts and five walks.

Nathan Zacher saw his record fall to 1-5 on the season as he gave up five runs (four earned) off fourteen hits in a complete game effort.

Corbett and Huether led the Beavers at the plate each going 3-for-4 at the plate. Huether scored two times while Corbett drove in two RBIs.

The Beavers hot bats were shut down in the final game of the four game series with the Wolves as they were only able to collect four hits.

BSU scored both of its runs in the top of the first with Huether leading the game off with a single to left field. Huether advanced to second when Bohannan drew a walk and then both runners moved up a base on a passed ball. Silvernagel grounded out to the shortstop allowing Huether to score from third for the first run of the game. Bohannan came around to score on a RBI single up the middle by Stoloski to give the Beavers a 2-0 lead. The Beavers were only able to garner two more hits during the final six innings of the game.

The Wolves scored all four of their runs in the bottom of the third inning. They led the inning off with back-to-back-to-back singles by Lunsetter, Adam Kampson, and Tom Keiser. Lunsetter scored NSUs first run of the game taking advantage of an error by BSU third baseman Colton Smith (Fr., Waddell, Ariz.). The Wolves took the lead two RBI single by Matt Tales to give NSU its first lead of the series at 3-2. Scott Iano drove in the Wolves fourth run of the inning to give NSU a 4-2 lead.

The two run lead was more than enough for Derek Hoellein as he picked up his first win of the season pitching six solid innings giving up two runs (two earned) off four hits with seven strikeouts with three walks. Tyler Bauman picked up his third save of the season working one inning picking up one strikeouts.

Kevin Morel (Jr., Shoreview) worked three innings giving up four runs (one earned) off seven hits seeing his record fall to 2-3 on the season. Randy Amos (Jr., Wilmington, N.C.) worked three innings of relief surrendering just one hit while striking out three batters.

With the split the Beavers improve to 12-17-1 on the season and 10-6 in the NSIC. The 10 conference wins is the most since the 2004 season when BSU had 11 wins in the conference.

BSU will be back in action on Wednesday, April 23 when the Beavers host Upper Iowa in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) double-header at the BSU Baseball Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

--beavers--