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Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University baseball team opened the 2016 home season with a pair of NSIC losses to Bemidji State University. The Wolves dropped to 11-9 overall and 4-4 in the league after the 9-6 and 11-9 losses.
Game 1
Bemidji State scored first in the top of the second innings with one run on a passed ball. Northern answered back with two runs off the bat of
Jack Schmidt, capturing the lead in the bottom of the third. Schmidt connected for a two run blast to right, which was the team's first of five homeruns on the day. The one run lead however did not last long as Bemidji packed on eight runs in the fourth and fifth innings. The Wolves battled back with four more runs in the game, however were unable to recapture the lead.
Kolin Kubitz,
Jack Schmidt, and
Lucas Lorenz each recorded two hits in the game, including a homerun apiece. The trio combined for all six of the Wolves hits and five RBI in the loss.
Marcus Manderbach started the Wolves throwing four complete innings, giving up five hits and six runs. Manderbach suffered his second loss of the season.
Kris Johnson,
Andrew Nichols, and
Colton Landreth each entered in relief giving up a combined five hits and three earned runs.
Game 2
The Beavers again jumped out to a one run lead in game two, and the Wolves answered with two runs of their own. The two teams traded runs in the middle innings of action, with the Wolves tying things up in the seventh. Down 9-6 heading into the bottom half of the inning, Gripentrog, Kubitz, and Schmidt were set to lead off the inning for NSU.
Tyler Gripentrog started the NSU rally with a single up the middle. Kubitz quickly mirrored Gripentrog connecting for a single of his own.
Jack Schmidt dropped his second hit of the game into left field, scoring Gripentrog while also advancing to second on an error by the BSU outfielder. Kubitz advanced to third on the error and scored the next at-bat on an error by the third baseman. Senior
Jeff Rideout stepped to the plate with runners on second and third for his first at-bat of the season. Rideout grounded out to the shortstop on a tough play up the middle, scoring Schmidt and tying the game at nine all.
Nick Hoffard and
Luke Chevalier held the Beavers scoreless in the top of the eighth, however Bemidji State battled back for two runs off Chevalier in the top of the ninth. Northern ultimately fell in the game, unable to come back from the Gunner Olszewski homerun to right field.
Tyler Gripentrog,
Jack Schmidt, and
Preston Brown led the team with two hits each in the game. Brown connected for a double and homerun in the game, while senior
Matt Stubbs belted his seventh homerun of the season.
Zach Beatty,
Lucas Lorenz,
Mikey Barreneche, and
Kolin Kubitz notched the team's final hits in the game.
Hoffard threw three scoreless innings of relief for NSU, giving up just five hits and one walk. Chevalier suffered his first loss of the season, giving up one hit and two earned runs in 1.1 innings of work.
Colton Landreth,
Phil Sauer, and
Brock Ragatz each entered in relief of starter
Isaiah Greene.
NSU will return home this weekend for a pair of doubleheaders versus Augustana University. Saturday game times have been moved up to 10 a.m. due to a home Presentation College contest that same day. The two teams will then return to Fossum Field for a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Sunday.
