BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Baseball team was close to earning its first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory of the season but fell in two hard-fought games of its home-opening doubleheader against University of Minnesota Duluth Wednesday afternoon at BSU Baseball Field.
 
The Beavers held leads in both games Wednesday afternoon but fell 9-2 in game one and then 13-7 in game two.
 
Game one started with senior Ty Karger driving in the first run in the second inning. UMD answered in the fourth to tie the game but BSU responded with another run when Zach Evenson scored off a Bulldog throwing error to retake the lead.
 
However, a five-run fifth inning by the Bulldogs followed by two runs in the sixth and another in the seventh put the victory out of reach for the Beavers.
 
Evenson also started the game on the mound, his first start of the season, and pitched 4.1 innings allowing four runs off six hits, walked three and struck out three. He had gotten through four innings allowing just one run before the Bulldogs fired off in the fifth. He earned his first loss of the season falling to 0-1while also leading the Beavers at the plate with two hits in three at bats.
 
He was replaced by Daniel Pobuda who pitched 0.2 innings and Carter Scanlon who pitched the final two innings.
 
Five Beavers recorded a hit in the game including two from Evenson while Jack Munson and Hunter Daymond each hit doubles.
 
Game two was a back-and-forth battle that included four lead changes including the final one in the top of the eighth. The Beavers held a lead over the Bulldogs twice in the game but a six-run eighth inning by UMD powered the Bulldogs to a 13-7 victory.
 
Munson powered the Beavers at the plate going 3-for-5 with two home runs, four RBI and three runs scored. It was his first career two home run effort and his third game with four RBI. Bemidji State totaled 10 hits in the game and produced seven runs.
 
Freshman Matt Filippi joined Munson hitting his third home run of the season while Beau Thoma tripled and Hunter Daymond hit a double. Senior Ty Karger went 2-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and scored a run.
 
The Beavers remain at home and host Minnesota State University, Mankato for a three-game series at BSU Baseball Field this Saturday and Sunday.
 
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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