LIBERTY, Mo. – The Bemidji State University secured victories in both games of its doubleheader at William Jewell College on Saturday at Talley Stadium in Liberty, Mo., winning 8-5 in the first game and 7-3 in the second. The Beavers showcased a potent offense, tallying a combined 17 hits and taking advantage of multiple walks while executing their baserunning with speed.
 
Bemidji State won the series 3-1 against the Cardinals, marking their first four-game series victory since 2017. The Beavers shattered two program records in game three of the series stealing 12 bases besting the previous record of eight. Junior Beau Thoma broke the Beavers' single game steals record with four stolen bases in the game.
 
In the first game, Thoma led the charge with four stolen bases and contributed defensively with four assists. Nash Rubins recorded two hits, including a double, and added two stolen bases, while Jack Feldman was active on the bases, scoring three runs and stealing three bases. Matt Filippi drove in two runs with two hits and scored once.
 
Joey Koch pitched for Bemidji State, completing 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits, which included two doubles, a triple, and a home run. He struck out three batters and walked two before being relieved. Connor Donlin pitched 1 inning, giving up one run on three hits, while Jacob Smith closed the game with 2 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing only one hit, earning a save in the process.
 
Bemidji State opened the scoring in the first inning when Thoma singled, stole second, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hunter Hyden, leading 1-0. The Beavers extended their lead in the second with a run from a throwing error after Feldman walked and stole second, followed by an RBI single from Adrian Falcon. The game saw back-and-forth scoring, with the Beavers regaining the lead in the fifth inning after a two-RBI double from Kyle Kono, eventually sealing the game with two more runs in the seventh.
 
In the second game, Matt Filippi delivered a notable performance with a home run, collecting three RBIs and scoring two runs. Beau Barry pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run while striking out six batters. Joe Hansen contributed with a double, two RBIs, a run, and a walk, while Thoma showcased his speed again with two stolen bases.
 
Bemidji State established an early lead with three runs in the first inning, highlighted by Hansen's double that brought home Thoma and Noah Drusch. They extended their lead to 4-0 in the second inning with an RBI single from Drusch. After a quiet middle innings, the Beavers capitalized on the Cardinals' errors in the eighth, with Filippi hitting a three-run homer to bring the score to 7-1. The Cardinals managed to score two runs in the bottom half of the eighth but could not close the gap, concluding the game with a score of 7-3.
 
Bemidji State improves its record to 3-9 this season and look to resume Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play by facing Northern State University for a four-game series at Ronken Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., March 6-8. The first three games of the series will be conference contests while game four will be non-conference.
 
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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