BEMIDJI, Minn.  -- The Bemidji State University baseball team scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning of game two of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader at Upper Iowa University Sunday, helping it to a 6-5 win that salvaged a split with the Peacocks. The Beavers lost game one 8-0.

The Beavers (13-22, 4-14 NSIC) suffered their second shutout in their last four games and the third this season in game one, producing just four hits. Freshman Nick Monson (RHP, West St. Paul, Minn.) started for BSU throwing 5.1 innings, allowing five runs, four earned on seven hits.  Only four runs by the Peacocks (11-14, 8-6 NISC) were earned, as BSU committed five errors, moving the team to 3-11 with committing two or more errors.

Game two’s win ended a four-game skid for the Beavers, as the squad produced late inning heroics, scoring all three runs while being down to their last out. BSU got the scoring started in the top of the second inning. Junior Ryan Sander (RHP/1B, St. James, Minn.) started the frame with a single and eventually came around to score on a groundout to short by freshman Matt Ellinghuysen (3B/C, Saint Charles, Minn.). BSU then added two more in the third to take a 3-0 lead off a junior Brian Murphy (RHP/1B, Longville, Minn.) two-run home run, his first of the season.

UIU came back in the bottom of the fourth with two runs, then took a 4-0 lead with two more in the bottom of the sixth inning to own a 4-3 lead into the top of the seventh inning, needing just three outs to secure the four-game sweep. But the Beavers would not fold, despite its first two hitters recording fly-outs to the outfield. BSU got a base runner in junior Dan Bauer (Util./RHP, Bemidji, Minn.) as he drew a five-pitch walk. Senior Josh Silvernagel (MIF, Bismark, N.D.) then stepped-up and doubled down the left field line, moving Bauer to third and setting himself up in scoring position as the go-ahead run. BSU skipper Tim Bellew then made a line-up change and brought in Jeff Schaper (R-So., IF, Bemidji, Minn.) to pinch hit. The move proved wise as Schaper singled up the middle to score Bauer and Silvernagel to move BSU into the lead at 5-4. An insurance run was added after junior Nick Jelacie (OF, Brainerd, Minn.) walked and Sander gained first on an error by the short stop. The mishap allowed freshman Lewis Bauman (MIF, Colorado Springs, Colo.), who was runner for Schaper, to score from second.

Owining a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the seventh, Bellew left Bauer in the game to pitch. He came into the game in the sixth and got the final two outs, allowing two runs that were credited to BSU starter left-hander Phil Bray (Fr, Chatfield, Minn.). Bauer gave the Beavers a scare after getting the first out, he walked consecutive batters. A Peacock single loaded the bases with one out recorded. The next UIU batter hit a grounder to the shortstop, who got the force out at second with a throw to the second baseman, but the play scored a run that cut the deficit in half. Another walk by Bauer re-loaded the bases with the Beavers holding on to a one-run lead and two away. Bauer finally bore-down and got the final out himself, as the Peacock batter went down on strikes swinging.

With the win, Bauer moved to 2-2 on the season. Bray threw 5.1 strong innings, allowing four earned runs off five hits, while posting a season-high eight strikeouts. At the plate, the six Beaver hits were spread out through the line-up. Bauer was 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Both Murphy and Schaper recorded two RBI.

BSU didn’t commit a single error in game two. In the 13 wins by the Beavers this season, the team has committed just nine errors, posting eight victories with zero errors. The win gives the Beavers a 2-19 record when trailing after six innings.

BSU comes back home April 14 with a NSIC doubleheader against Southwest Minnesota State University starting at 2 p.m.

--bsu--