WINONA, Minn. (Loughrey Field) -- The Bemidji State University baseball team was swept in a two-game series with the Warriors of Winona State University Friday afternoon at Loughrey Field in Winona, Minn. The Warriors outscored the Beavers 11-1 in game one and 6-1 in game two, to improve their record to 14-7 overall and 6-0 in the NSIC while dropping BSU’s record to 8-19 and 1-8 in the conference.

Senior Brent Vollbrecht (RHP, Morristown, Minn.) got the start for BSU in game one and looked fresh from the start, allowing just two hits through the first two innings facing the minimum of six batters. However, through the next inning in a half as Vollbrecht faced 14 batters, giving up eight runs (one earned). Vollbrecht was replaced after 3.1 innings in which he allowed eight runs and one walk. With the loss, Vollbrecht drops to 2-3 on the season.

Vollbrecht was replaced by Matt Fossen (So., RHP, Bemidji, Minn.) who finished the fourth inning giving up two runs off two hits. The final two innings of the game were completed by sophomore Bryan Jamieson (RHP, Maplewood, Minn.) who gave up just one hit, which was a home run by the lead off batter Brett Maxwell in the fifth inning giving the Warriors a 11-1 lead. Jamieson went 2.0 innings allowing one run off one hit, sending one Warrior player back to the dugout via strikeout.

Bemidji State broke up the shutout in the top of the fifth when Colton Smith (So., 3B/RHP, Waddell, Ariz.) led the inning off doubling to left center field and then moved to third on a wild pitch. Anthony Turk (Sr., OF, Little Falls, Minn.) drove Smith in off a sacrifice fly for BSU’s lone run of the game.

Josh Silvernagel (Jr., SS/RHP, Bismarck, N.D.) led the Beavers at the plate picking up two of the Beavers four hits in Game 1. Winona State had four players pound out two hits apiece.

Ross Hellenbrand improved his record to a perfect 6-0 on the season working six strong innings allowing just one run (one earned) off four hits with nine strikeouts for WSU.

Game 2 got off to a much better start for the Beavers. BSU took advantage of a lead off single and a throwing error in the top of the first, scoring Silvernagel from third off a Paul Newman (Sr., 1B/DH, Durhamville, N.Y.) single giving BSU a early 1-0 lead.

The Beavers lead didn’t last long as Winona State took advantage of two Bemidji State errors in the second and third innings scoring five runs to take a 5-1 lead. Joe Kley reached base on a error by BSU third baseman Smith to spark a three run rally. All three of the Warrior runs were unearned as Kley and Ben Smothers both scored off a wild pitch, while Adam Gemuenden scored off a infield single to put WSU up 3-1.

In the third inning Winona State’s Jared Anderson singled to right field and then scored when Kley smashed a RBI double to right center field. With two outs in the inning a error by BSU second baseman P.J. McIntee (Sr., 2B, Randolph, Minn.) kept the inning alive allowing Hellenbrand to reach base and Kley to come around to score pushing the Warriors lead to 5-1.

In the fifth inning it was Kley once again who sparked a two out rally reaching base with a two out single and then put himself in scoring position as she stole second. The next batter, Gemuenden singled up the middle allowing Kley to score and plate the Warriors final run of the game which was more than enough earning a 6-1 win over BSU in Game 2 of the doubleheader.

Ryan Bohannan (Sr., OF/RHP, Goodyear, Ariz.) saw his record drop to 0-4 as he worked 5.0 innings allowing six runs (two earned) off six hits with one walk and eight strikeouts. Bryan Buhr (Sr., RHP, Frazee, Minn.) pitched a perfect sixth inning allowing just one hit with one strikeout.

Evan Buhr evened his record at 2-2 working five innings allowing one run (zero earned) off six hits with four strikeouts. Jon Wenker pitched two innings picking up five strikeouts in relief.

Smith went 2-for-4 from the plate to lead BSU offensively while Newman picked up BSU’s lone RBI.

Bemidji State (8-19; 1-8 NSIC) and Winona State (14-7; 6-0 NSIC) will wrap up its four game set tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader for Loughrey Field in Winona, Minn. First pitch is set for noon.

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

--beavers--