BEMIDJI, Minn. – It has been 3,298 days since the Beavers last win against University of Minnesota Crookston but that streak ended Wednesday afternoon as the Bemidji State University Baseball team split its doubleheader with the Golden Eagles at the BSU Baseball Field. The Beavers snapped their 21-game losing streak to the Golden Eagles with a 6-2 victory in the opening game of their Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader while UMC salvaged the split with a 10-6 win in game two.
 
Bemidji State's last win against Minnesota Crookston was April 11, 2017, also at the BSU Baseball Field, and it was 9 years, 11 days until its next win would come. The Beavers set the tone early in game one with a five-run first inning, highlighted by two home runs. Hunter Hyden hit his fifth home run of the season and second in four games, driving in two runs for the team. Matt Filippi added to the offensive effort by scoring twice and collecting two RBIs, including a home run and a double. On the mound, Beau Barry pitched five innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs and tied a career-high with seven strikeouts, earning the win to improve his record to 3-4. Castle Huggard secured a save, pitching two innings without allowing a hit or a run, his third of the season.
 
The first inning saw Bemidji State capitalize on errors and timely hits, jumping ahead 5–0. Jack Feldman reached base on a throwing error and scored on Hyden's two-run homer to left field. Noah Drusch singled and stole second, then Filippi doubled him home. Joe Hansen added another run with an RBI single, and Cooper Anderson's walk allowed Hansen to score on a throwing error when he stole second.
 
UMC responded in the second inning with a solo home run by Fliflet, cutting the deficit to 5–1. The score remained unchanged until the sixth inning when both teams added one run each. UMC's Sculati scored on a double play, while Filippi extended Bemidji State's lead with a solo homer to left field. Bemidji State's pitching staff maintained control, limiting UMC to two runs and securing the win.
 
The win was the ninth of the season for the Beavers, the most since 2017 (19) and most under head coach Matt Ellinghuysen.
 
In the second game, Bemidji State fell to the Golden Eagles with a 10–6 loss. Both teams recorded 11 hits, but Bemidji State committed three errors. Beau Thoma made a significant impact by hitting a home run and driving in three runs. Hunter Hyden contributed with two hits, including a double, while scoring once. Matt Filippi also added to the offense with two hits and one RBI.
 
Quintin Selway started the game for Bemidji State, pitching three innings while allowing three hits and two earned runs, striking out four without issuing any walks. Andrew Murphy followed with three innings of work, surrendering three runs on three hits while striking out two. The Golden Eagles took an early lead in the second inning when Kappes homered to left field.
 
Bemidji State responded in the third inning with a rally that included doubles and a home run, taking a 6–4 lead after the fourth. However, Minnesota Crookston narrowed the gap in the fifth and tied the game in the eighth after scoring on an error. In the ninth inning, UMC pulled ahead with a decisive four-run inning, leading to a final score of Minnesota Crookston 10, Bemidji State 6.
 
Bemidji State moves to 9-29 on the season and 6-21 in conference play. It continues its home stand with a four-game series with Minot State University Saturday-Sunday at the BSU Baseball Field.
 
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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