HAYS, Kan. (Larks Park)- The Fort Hays State Tigers scored 10 runs in the fifth inning of Game 1, then combined for four runs in the second and third innings of Game 2 to complete a double-header sweep of Bemidji State on Friday afternoon at Larks Park in Hays, Kan. Fort Hays State captured Game 1 by a score of 13-8, and capped the three-game series with a 5-4 win in Game 2.

The Tigers broke open a scoreless game and got on the board first in Game 1. Cody Staten doubled to left center and then advanced to third on a single by Dusty Washburn. Luke Dreiling pushed Staten across for the games first run of the game when he hit a grounder to the first baseman. The Beavers took the lead in the top half of the second when Anthony Turk hit a two-run homer to left field for his second homerun of the season.

The Tigers knotted the game back up at 2-2 in the third inning on a RBI single by Dusty Washburn but the Beavers regained the lead in the fourth inning when Anthony Stoloski (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) led the inning off with a homerun to right field for his second of the season. The Tigers blew the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning when they scored 10 runs on 10 hits and two errors to take a commanding nine run lead into the final innings. Rob Nelson and Luke Dreiling highlighted the inning for the Tigers each hitting two run homeruns to help the Tigers complete the big 10 run inning.

Bemidji State scored five runs in the final three innings. In the fifth inning Stoloski hit his second homerun of the game this time a three run bomb to right center field to bring the Beavers to within a 12-6 deficit. The sixth inning saw the Beavers score one run as Turk scored from third on a fielding error by the Tigers shortstop that allowed Rich Bohannon (Goodyear, Ariz.) to reach first base safely. BSU added one more in the final frame as Josh Juntunen (Elk River, Minn.) led the inning off with a double and eventually scored from third on a ground out to the right side of the infield by Eric Pilgrim (Park Rapids, Minn.) but the rally would come up short and the Beavers fell 13-8 in Game 1.

Stoloski and Turk had three hits apiece for the Beavers, accounting for six of Bemidji State’s thirteen hits. Stoloski paced the Beavers with four RBI with Turk finishing with two RBI in the contest.

Kevin Morel (Shoreview, Minn.) took the loss on the mound for the Beavers, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits and zero walks in three innings of work, seeing his record fall to 0-2 on the season. Chad Schwegel (St. Joseph, Minn.) and Bryan Buhr (Frazee, Minn.) pitched in relief; Schwegel allowed four run (four earned) on six hits in one inning of work while Buhr allowed one run (one earned) on two hits in two innings of work.

Bobby Lewton picked up the win for the Tigers, allowing six runs on 10 hits and zero walks seeing his record improve to 3-1 on the season. Aaron Nuss pitched in relief allowing two runs on three hits while striking out three batters in two innings of work.

Game 2 saw Bemidji State open the scoring in the second inning when the Beavers put together a two out rally. Brian Simon (Owatonna, Minn.) doubled to center field and Ryan Bohannon followed that up with a RBI single to left field to give the Beavers and early 1-0 lead.

The Tigers went on to score four unanswered runs through the second and third innings of play. Dusty Washburn led the second inning off with a double and Luke Dreiling followed up with a RBI triple to tie the contest up in the second inning. Brett Becker pushed the go-ahead run across on an sacrifice bunt scoring Dreiling from third to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead. The Tigers scored two more runs in the bottom of the third to push its lead to 4-1. Rob Nelson hit a two out homerun to right field to push the tiger lead to 3-1 and then Jason Pfeifer hit a single to right field to score Dusty Washburn from second to give the Tigers a 4-1 lead.

The Beavers battled back bring the score to 4-3 after five innings of play. The Beavers led the fourth and fifth innings off with homeruns. In the fourth inning Josh Juntunen (Elk River, Minn.) homered to right center field and then in the fifth inning Rich Bohannon homered to left field to bring the Beavers back within a one run deficit.

The Tigers pushed its lead back to two runs in the sixth inning on a RBI double by Rob Nelson. The Beavers tried to comeback in the seventh and final at bats for the Beavers. Anthony Stoloski hit a two out RBI single to center field to bring the Beavers back within one run but the next batter would ground out to first base to end the comeback effort by the Beavers and the Tigers took game 2 by a score of 5-4.

Josh Langlie (Thief River Falls, Minn.) took the loss for the Beavers giving up four runs (four earned) on six hits, four walks with two strikeouts in five innings of work, seeing his record fall to 0-3 on the season.. Tony Meech (Menahga, Minn.) made the lone relief appearance for the Beavers giving up one run (one earned) on one hit and two walks in one inning of work.

Matt Augustine picked up the win for the Tigers allowing three run (three earned) on seven hits with one walk in four innings of work for his first win of the season for the Tigers. Tom Goodwin and Tyler Nuss made relief appearances; Goodwin struckout two batters while Nuss struckout three batters in their appearances.

Bemidji State (0-10) will travel to Arkadelphia, Ark. to battle Ouachita Baptist in a double-header on Saturday, March 10th and then just a single contest on Sunday, March 11th. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from Rab Rodgers Field on Saturday afternoon.

--beavers--