FAYETTE, Iowa (Robertson Woods Field) – The Bemidji State University baseball team fell in game one of its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener Sunday, 5-2, but rebounded for a 4-3 victory in game two to split the conference doubleheader at Upper Iowa University. Game two was called after eight innings due to darkness, as the double dip was delayed three hours due to field conditions.

The Beavers (7-8, 1-1 NSIC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first frame of game one. Senior Zach Braun (C, Lakeville, Minn.) drove in both runs on a single up the middle with one out that plated sophomores Tyler Nelson (SS, Hayfield, Minn.) and Joey Hanowski (INF/OF, Little Falls, Minn.).

The game was tied 2-2 after the bottom half of the first, as the Peacocks (8-7, 1-1 NSIC) plated two of their own. UIU then scored two runs in the second and a single in the third to take the 5-2 lead, which was good enough for the victory. The Peacocks out-hit the Beavers 10-6 in game one.

Junior Tyler Saeugling (RHP, Dubuque, Iowa) suffered the loss to move to 2-2 after going the distance and allowing the five runs (four earned) on 10 hits with five strikeouts. Both Nelson and Hanowski went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

The Peacocks scored first in game two with a single run in the first, but a two-run third by Bemidji State gave the road team a 2-1 lead. Hanowski singled to tie the game, as freshman Jake Braun (INF, Lakeville, Minn.) came across home plate. Z. Braun then recorded a single that plated senior outfielder Chad Hanson (St. Paul, Minn.).

The game was tied 2-2 when Upper Iowa posted a run in the fourth. Bjorge recorded a go-ahead run in the sixth when J. Braun drew a bases loaded, two-out walk. The Bemidji State lead went to 4-2 in the top of the eighth on a failed pickoff attempt by the UIU pitcher, which allowed freshman Logan Reidel (RHP/OF, Clarissa, Minn.) to score.

The run proved important, as Upper Iowa scored a no outs run the bottom of the eighth to cut the deficit in half, 4-3. Junior Drake Huggans (RHP, Greenley, Colo.) came in to relieve lefty Nate Heisick (So., Plymouth, Minn.) and allowed an RBI single, but recorded three consecutive outs, which included back-to-back strikeouts, to end the threat and the game.

Heisick earned the win to improve to 2-1 after hurling 2.1 innings of relief. The left-hander didn’t allow a hit and fanned three batters. Heisick entered the game for starter Mark Kosmalski (Fr., RHP, Oakdale, Minn.), who went 4.2 innings and allowed two earned runs on two hits with two strikeouts. Huggans picked up his third save of the season.

Freshman Bo Schmitz (C/OF, St. Cloud, Minn.) was the lone Beaver batter to record multiple hits, as he went 2-for-4. BSU totaled seven hits, while UIU recorded just three. Both teams suffered two errors.

Next for the Beavers is a conference doubleheader at Augustana College April 2 beginning at 2:30 p.m.

For more informaion on the Bemidji State baseball program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Mulitmedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.

Nestled in Northern Minnesota’s wooded region and 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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