BEMIDJI, Minn (BSU Baseball Field) -- A first-inning boom set up a tough road for the Bemidji State University baseball team during its 17-5 loss in the series finale against Augustana University on Saturday afternoon. Senior Isaiah Grancorvitz and sophomore Tom Keohen each recorded solo home runs as the Beavers fall to 2-16 overall and 1-12 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference while the Vikings improve to 13-4 overall and 9-4 in conference play.

The Vikings broke the game open early with a 10-run first inning on 10 hits before scoring in every inning except the second and the seventh. After the first inning, Augustana drove in one run in the third inning, three in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth for a 16-1 lead.

Freshman Carter Simon accounted for BSU's first run with a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in junior Parker Borg who led the second inning off with a double. The Beavers added two runs in the fifth and sixth innings on two solo home runs, first by sophomore Tom Keohen in the fifth followed by senior Isaiah Grancorvitz in the sixth. Simon added his second RBI of the day with an RBI single up the middle while freshman Brooks Bachmann hit a sacrifice fly to right field for BSU's final run of the game.

Grancorvitz, Keohen and Simon each recorded two hits on the day with Simon leading the team with two RBI. Both of Keohen's hit were for extra bases while Borg, Grancorvitz and Simon also tallied extra-base knocks. BSU starting pitcher Will Lavin (0-4) took the loss after allowing four earned runs while freshmen pitchers Grant Hartmann and Hunter Haggenmiller each threw at least 2.0 innings in relief.

Bemidji State returns home Wednesday, April 7 at 1:30 p.m. for a doubleheader against Wayne State College.

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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