BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Baseball Field) -- Junior Kai Haake and freshman Isaiah Grancorvitz added their names to the list of home run hitters Sunday as Bemidji State University completed its series against University of Sioux Falls at BSU Baseball Field in Bemidji, Minn. BSU (9-17, 7-7 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) fell in a sweep on the day, 13-6 and 10-9, to USF (9-14, 7-7 NSIC) after leading late in game one and leading early in game two.

Game One
Sioux Falls went up first after scoring on an RBI single in the first inning and a three-run home run to left field in the third. Senior Logan Riedel sparked a five-run fourth inning for BSU with his second homer of the season, a two-run shot to left center field. Senior Matt Mastantuono and junior Kai Haake each added one run on sacrifice hits while an error brought freshman Noah Boser home for a 5-4 Beavers lead.

After the Cougars tied the game on a passed ball in the sixth, senior Ben Boser doubled to center field to bring Haake home to regain the lead for the Beavers. USF broke the game open in the top of the seventh inning with eight runs, including a grand slam by Gunner Peterson to go up 13-6.

Beavers reliever Jackson Wittwer (0-3) took the loss after allowing six earned runs on five hits while the team’s starter Connor McNallan (2-2) received a no decision after going 5.2 innings with three earned runs allowed. Cougars pitcher Chris Thompson (1-2) received the win after closing out the final inning with one strikeout and no hits allowed.

Game Two
A single and two hit by pitches with no outs set up Bemidji State’s first runs of game two in the third inning, as sophomore Gunner Olszewski hit into a fielder’s choice to drive in one run and junior Scott Litchy hit a sacrifice fly to left field to give BSU a 2-0 lead. The Cougars tied the game before quickly taking a two-run lead in the fourth inning off three hits and four runs. Senior Mason Bellew recorded his first hit of the day, a double down the left field line, to begin a string of three consecutive hits for BSU. Mastantuono doubled two batters later to drive in Bellew while Haake recorded his second sacrifice RBI hit of the day to tie the game at 4-4.

An RBI single in the fifth inning and two-RBI single in the sixth put USF back on top, 7-4. Freshman Isaiah Grancorvitz and junior Kai Haake hit their first career home runs in a Beaver uniform during the sixth inning, both sending the shots past the left field fence to cut USF’s lead to 7-6. Bemidji State loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning, which led to two runs on a walk and an error to tie the game at 8-8. USF followed a leadoff walk in the eighth with three singles to add two runs and take a 10-8 lead.

BSU pitcher Will Thurston (0-1) took his first loss of the season after allowing three earned runs on five hits in 1.2 innings of work. Cougars pitcher Stuart Maes (1-2) earned his first win of the season after going 2.1 innings with one earned run allowed on one hit and three walks.

Bemidji State continues its home schedule with two games against Northern State University Wednesday, April 5. The Beavers and Wolves begin a doubleheader at 2 p.m. from BSU Baseball Field.

Nestled in Northern Minnesota’s wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

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