BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Baseball team continues its lengthy stretch of road games by traveling to Brandon, S.D., for a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheaders against Southwest Minnesota State University Friday, March 21 and Saturday.
 
The Beavers and Mustangs moved their NSIC series originally scheduled for Saturday-Sunday in Marshall, Minn., to Friday-Sunday at Aspen Park in Brandon, S.D.
 
BSU and SMSU open their series with a doubleheader Friday beginning with game one at 1:00 p.m. The two teams then close out their series Saturday with another doubleheader also starting at 1:00 p.m. Fans can watch each game in the series online at NSICNetwork.com/bsubeavers and can follow live stats, here.
 
The Beavers enter the weekend's action looking to snap a 13-game losing streak and earn their first conference wins of the season. BSU is 1-13 (0-8 NSIC) entering the weekend while the Mustangs are 8-6 (3-5 NSIC). The Beavers are coming off a full week's rest after playing four games in Wayne, Neb., falling to Wayne State College in all four games.
 
The Mustangs are back in action after going 1-3 against St. Cloud State University March 15-16 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn.
 
Bemidji State is 65-114 all-time against Southwest Minnesota State dating back to their first game in 1970. However, the Mustangs have fared better as of late and are on a 11-game winning streak against the Beavers.
 
Sophomore Matt Filippi leads the Beavers at the plate batting .237 with nine hits in 38 at bats but is followed closely by junior Noah Drusch who is batting .231 with nine hits in 39 at bats. Drusch paces the team with an .899 OPS after combining a team-high .487 slugging percentage and .412 on-base percentage. Senior Zach Evenson leads the team with 21 toatl bases an dis slugging .467 after hitting a team-high three home runs and also paces the Beavers with nine RBI.
 
The Beavers also saw the return of shortstop Beau Thoma to the lineup last weekend who is batting .321 in 28 at bats and is tied for the team lead with four doubles.
 
On the mound, senior Derek Hoffman and sophomore Josh Haugen lead the Beavers with three starts while Hoffman has collected the Beavers lone win and is 1-1 on the season. He leads the Beavers with 12.1 innings pitched and has a 8.03 ERA. Fellow senior Brandon Lind leads the BSU starting group with a 6.00 ERA and has earned a team-high 11 punch outs.
 
The Beavers' bullpen is led by junior Cole Smith who has pitched 7.1 innings while freshman Matt Greiner is close behind with 7.0 innings. Junior Riley Czech made his first appearances on the mound last weekend and pitched 3.0 innings without allowing a run against the Wildcats for a perfect 0.00 ERA. He is followed by freshman Connor Donlin who has pitched 3.2 innings and has a 2.45 ERA.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State baseball program, follow the Beavers on X, like them on Facebook and follow them on Instagram.
 
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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