BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Baseball team's 2023 season came to an end Saturday afternoon after dropping its series finale with Minot State University 9-8 at the BSU Baseball Field. The Beavers fought hard in a tight "Beaver Battle" with Minot State falling one-run short of ending the season on a high note, losing 9-8.
Bemidji State started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when senior
James Wirt was aggressive on the basepaths and scored from second on a wild pitch. The Beavers held the one-run lead until the third when a lead-off walk followed by a two-run home run over the left field wall put Minot State up 2-1.
After MSU's starting pitcher Gage Yost pitched the opening two innings for the Beavers, Minot State used seven pitchers to put BSU on its heels. The platoon of pitchers held BSU scoreless for four consecutive innings following the first. Minot State increased its lead to two runs in the fifth after a lead-off hit and two batters later an RBI-single brought MSU's third run in from third.
Minot State then exploded for five runs in the top half of the fifth inning to take an 8-1 lead over the Beavers. However, Bemidji State answered with its own five-run inning in the bottom of the inning after
Jack Munson hit a single followed by a double and walk from
Zach Listiak and
Derek Dolezal to load the bases. BSU then scored three runs off an error and two batters hit by pitch with the bases loaded followed by a bases-loaded walk from
Isaiah Biehn.
Hunter Daymond capped-off the five-run inning reaching on a fielder's choice to second base that brought in a runner from third.
Both teams were held off the scoreboard in the seventh inning but a solo home run in the top of the eighth from Minot State increased its lead to three. The Beavers answered back once again and after a lead-off walk from Biehn and consecutive hits from Daymond and Wirt put runners on second and third but Biehn was thrown out at third base after attempting to score. With runners on second and third and two outs, Listiak hit a base hit to left field that scored both runners to pull the Beavers within one and setting up a dramatic final inning.
Freshman
Christian Lindow came in to pitch the ninth looking to hold Minot State to the one-run lead and sent the Beavers down 1-2-3 in 13 pitches.
However, Minot State sent in a new pitcher as well and facing the Beavers' 6-7-8 hitters, sent all three down in order to finish the game and earn the save.
Bemidji State out-hit MSU despite falling in the game totaling 11 hits to nine. Munson and Listiak each went 3-for-5 at the plate with the pair each hitting doubles but Listiak was the main run producer for the Beavers leading the team with two RBI. Wirt followed collecting two base hits and scored two runs to lead the team. Daymond, Hamann and Biehn each recorded hits with Biehn and Dolezal drawing two walks. Three Beavers gained first after being hit by a pitch (Hamann, Karger, Ekstrum).
Freshman
Riley Bersaw (0-8) started the game on the mound and pitched five innings and held Minot Stat to three runs off five hits, the most effective outing of his season. He struck out one batter and walked two while hitting another to allow eight base runners.
He was replaced by senior
Christian Turner who pitched one inning and allowed five runs off three hits, walked two and struck out one. Freshman
Lucas Pierce came in to pitch the seventh and eighth innings and the left-hander held Minot State to just one run off one hit and collected a strikeout. Lindow finished the game for BSU with a perfect inning.
Bemidji State finishes the 2023 season with a 2-46 record and went 1-32 in conference play.
For more information on the Bemidji State baseball program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeaversBase), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and follow them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversBase).
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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