BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Baseball Field) -- The Bemidji State University baseball team split a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) double-header with the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Saturday afternoon at the BSU Baseball Field. Game 1 was never in doubt as BSU jumped out to a 11-0 lead through four innings of play to take the first game of the double-header, 13-2. Game 2 saw the Bulldogs use a seven run sixth to earn a split in the double-dip, 13-5.

Justin Huether (Sr., OF/RHP, Brainerd, Minn.) helped lift the Beavers to a 13-2 victory in Game 1 of the weekend series with one of BSU’s finest singe-game offensive performances of the season. Huether went 4-for-4 at the plate with a double and tied BSU’s season single-game high with five RBI. He drove in four of his five RBI in the first three innings with a pair of singles and a double to help the Beavers push their lead to 11-0.

Huether’s four-hit game led a group of five BSU hitters with more than one hit in the contest, and he was one of three Beavers to rack up more than one RBI in the blowout.

Brent Vollbrecht (Sr., RHP, Morristown, Minn.) scattered four hits in a seven-inning complete game victory for the Beavers. He allowed two runs (one earned) and struck out two while allowing just one walk. His complete-game performance was his team leading second complete game lifting his record to 3-4 on the season.

Mark Shaver took the loss for the Bulldogs seeing his record fall to 1-3 on the season. Shaver lasted just two innings allowing six runs (four earned) off seven hits with a strikeout and a pair of walks.

Minnesota Duluth grabbed the early lead in Game 2 with a solo home run off the bat of David Olson putting UMD up 1-0 at the end of one inning of play. UMD pushed their lead to 4-0 with a three run second inning as the first three batters of the inning reached base for the Bulldogs. Josh Threlkeld delivered a two RBI triple to right field and then scored off a RBI sacrifice fly by Kyle Dahl giving UMD the 4-0 lead.

BSU got on the board in the home half of the second inning with a two out rally. Ryan Bohannan (Sr., OF/RHP, Goodyear, Ariz.) started the rally by reaching first after being hit by a pitch. Alex Messick (So., C, Lakeville, Minn.) followed with a double to right center field with a RBI single to right field by P.J. McIntee (Sr., 2B, Randolph, Minn.) bringing BSU to with in 4-1.

BSU added a run in the fourth as Bohannan sparked the rally once again with a leadoff single to right field. Bohannan would be pinch ran for by Anthony Turk (Sr., OF, Little Falls, Minn.) due to an injury and Turk advanced to second on a passed ball and then moved to third on a single by Messick. Turk came into score BSU’s second run of the game off a ground out by McIntee.

In the fifth the Beavers loaded the bases with two outs forcing UMD to make a pitching change. Turk welcomed UMD relief pitcher Josh Taran with a bases clearing double to right center field putting the Beavers up 6-5 heading into the sixth inning.

The Beavers momentum quickly shifted in favor the Bulldogs as UMD answered the Beavers three run inning with a seven run inning to regain the lead, 11-5. The first six batters of the inning reached base with Anders Engberg delivering a 2 RBI single forcing BSU to bring in Bryan Jamieson (So., RHP, Maplewood, Minn.) out of the bullpen. Threlkeld greeted Jamieson with a 2 RBI double to right center field followed by a home run to right field by Dahl and a single by Jake Kluver. Randy Amos (Sr., RHP, Willmington, N.C.) came in and got the Beavers out of the inning but not before the Bulldogs plated seven runs to take a commanding 11-5 lead.

Minnesota Duluth added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh pushing its lead to 13-5 which was to much for the Beavers to overcome to earn a double-header split with the Beavers.

Messick led BSU offensively in Game 2 with a pair of hits while seven other Beavers registered a hit in the game. Turk knocked in three runs as he went 1-for-1 from the dish.

Ryan Sander (So., INF/RHP, St. James, Minn.) started on the mound and took the loss for the Beavers. He allowed eight runs (eight earned) on nine hits with one strikeout and a walk in 5.0 innings of work. Jamieson, Amos and Bryan Buhr (Sr., RHP, Frazee, Minn.) pitched in relief.

Collin Stinogel started for the Bulldogs lasting 4.2 innings, allowing five BSU runs on six hits. He walked four and struck out two. Taran came on in relief and earned his first win of the season in just a third of an inning pitched. Josh Foreman worked the final two innings giving up just two hits with two strike outs and a walk.

Bemidji State (12-27; 5-16 NSIC) and Minnesota Duluth (14-24; 6-12 NSIC) will wrap up its four-game weekend series tomorrow afternoon with a NSIC double-header at the BSU Baseball Field. First pitch is slated for a noon start.

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

--beavers--