BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Baseball Field) -- The Bemidji State University Beavers dropped a 4-2 decision to the Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears at the BSU Baseball Field Saturday night. CU jumped out to a 3-0 lead through the first three innings and held off a BSU rally to win the first game of a scheduled four-game series, 4-2. Game 2 of the double-dip was postponed due to cold temperatures and is scheduled to resume tomorrow at noon with games three and four to follow at the BSU Baseball Field.

Concordia University hurler Jake Schmidt held the Beavers in check as he struck out six of Bemidji State’s first seven batters as the Golden Bears built a 3-0 advantage they’d not relinquish.

Chris Herbert walked and then scored off a RBI double by Zane Froehlich to get the Golden Bears on the board in the top of the second. CU pushed its lead to 3-0 in the top of the third with a two out rally. Jon Stockton led the rally off with a single up the middle and scored when Brenden Furrow doubled off the left field wall. Chris Herbert singled home Furrow to give the Golden Bears a 3-0 lead.

With one out in the bottom of the third P.J. McIntee (Sr., 2B, Randolph, Minn.) and Josh Silvernagel (Jr., SS, Bismarck, N.D.) put together back-to-back singles, giving BSU runners at first and second. Ryan Sander (So., INF/RHP, St. James, Minn.) lifted one up into the lights in short right field for a two RBI double bringing BSU to within one, 3-2.

In the top of the sixth BSU got the tying run on second with no outs. Sander led the inning off with a single to left field and then advanced to second off a wild pitch. Schmidt buckled down and struck the next three BSU batters out to end the rally for the Beavers.

CU added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as Schmidt doubled home Zach Strouts who led the inning off with a single to put CU up 4-2. Schmidt took care of the Beavers in the seventh with a one-two-three inning to pick up his seventh win of the season improving his record to 7-2.

Both teams had strong performances from their starting pitchers. Schmidt went seven innings for the Golden Bears and allowed six hits with 14 strikeouts. He allowed two runs (two earned) with no walks.

He out-duelled BSU’s Brent Vollbrecht (Sr., RHP, Morristown, Minn.) who pitched five innings and allowed three runs (three earned) on six hits but took the loss and fell to 3-5. He struck out one and walked two. Justin Huether (Sr., RHP, Brainerd, Minn.) pitched two innings of relief allowing one run (one earned) off two hits with one walk.

Sander and McIntee each went 2-for-3, accounting for four of BSU’s six hits. Sander had BSU’s two RBI on the day.

The teams took the field for Game 2 and threw the first pitch and then the umpires called the game due to the cold temperatures.

BSU saw its record fall to 13-32 overall, 6-20 in NSIC play while CU improved to 31-13 overall and 12-10 in the conference. The two teams will be back in action tomorrow afternoon at the BSU Baseball Field were they will pick up were they left in game two and then will play games three and four of the series starting at noon.

Tomorrow the BSU baseball team will be celebrating its senior day as they recognize ten seniors in this years squad.

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

--beavers--