ELKHORN, Neb. – The Bemidji State University Baseball team had its best offensive output of its series against Wayne State College scoring nine runs off eight hits but fell just short of victory falling 12-9 to the Wildcats Sunday afternoon in Elkhorn, Neb.
The Beavers started the game by scoring the first run in the first inning when senior
Jack Munson hit an RBI single to center field that scored junior
Hunter Daymond who reached on a fielder's choice.
The Beavers clung onto the one-run lead until the third inning when Wayne State exploded for a four-run, third inning after stringing together hits.
Another run by the Wildcats in the fourth increased their lead to 5-1 but the Beavers responded in the bottom of the inning with three runs after sophomore
Riley Czech hit a bases loaded, two-out double that cleared the bases.
However, the Wildcats would respond and score three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to extend their lead to 10-4 before the Beavers would score again in the seventh with a
Matt Filippi solo home run, his first collegiate home run to bring the score to 10-5.
WSC would make it 11-5 in the next inning but the Beavers answered with four runs in the bottom half of the eighth when freshman
Hudson Filippi hit a three-run home run for his first career home run as well. Sophomore
Jackson Schaffer then followed by driving in Czech from third after he singled earlier in the inning.
The Wildcats would send in their closer for the ninth and he would send down the Beavers in order to claim the 12-9 victory and series sweep over BSU.
The Beavers' hitters collected the most hits (8) and runs (9) in the series led by Czech who went 2-for-4 with a double and three
RBI and
Matt Filippi who also went 2-for-4 with a home run, walk and RBI. The Beavers also drew seven walks in the game, the most in the series.
Junior
Derek Hoffman made his first appearance on the mound for BSU this season and went five innings allowing eight runs off seven hits, struck out four and walked two but earns his first loss of the season.
Matt Filippi also pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless baseball and struck out four of the eight batters he faced and allowed just two hits.
The Beavers will now look to Feb. 23-25 when they travel to Kansas City, Mo., to take on Rockhurst University for a four-game series. BSU will remain in the Kansas City area until Mar. 4 for spring break playing William Jewell College for four games and University of Missouri-St. Louis for two.
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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