BEMIDJI, Minn (BSU Baseball Field) -- The Bemidji State University baseball team was taken down in both of its series-opening doubleheader games Friday afternoon against Augustana University, 21-0 and 24-0. The Beavers fall to 2-15, 1-11 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference while the Vikings improve to 12-4 overall and 8-4 in conference play.

Game One – L, 21-0
Augustana came away with its first runs in the top of the first inning with the first of its seven home runs in the game. The Vikings followed with five runs in the third inning, three in the fourth, six in the fifth and five in the seventh. Senior infielder Sam Baier accounted for four of AU’s seven home runs, including seven RBI, during five at-bats.

Bemidji State hitters reached base in every inning except the sixth and left seven baserunners on through the game. The Beavers went 1-of-11 from the plate with runners on base and 0-of-3 with runners in scoring position.

Five different student-athletes accounted for each of BSU’s five hits in the game. Junior pitcher Kenny Morris (1-1) took the loss after making his second career start. He went 3.0 innings with three earned runs allowed.

Game Two – L, 24-0
The Vikings struck in the top of the first inning of game two with three unearned runs. A batter reached base by an error with two outs before a walk to set up a two-RBI single. Two batters later, AU brought in its third and final fun of the inning on another RBI single.

After Augustana added four runs on two home runs in the second inning to extend its lead to 7-0, Bemidji State threatened with runners on the corners and one out but two strikeouts ended the BSU chance to score. For the second straight inning, BSU got runners on the corners after back-to-back hits from senior Isaiah Grancorvitz and junior Sam Kalberer. The Beavers again came up empty after a strikeout to end the third inning.

The Vikings came back with an eight-run fourth inning, hitting four home runs, a double and a single to extend its lead to 15-0. Augustana then added one run in the fifth inning followed by seven in the sixth, coming on seven hits and a sacrifice fly to go head, 23-0. Baier hit a grand slam in the seven-run sixth inning for his third home run and his seventh RBI of the game.

Grancorvitz accounted for two of BSU’s three hits in the game while the Beavers totaled six walks and one hit by pitch as a team. Bemidji State left 10 runners on base through the game while going 2-of-14 from the plate with runners on base and 1-of-7 with runners in scoring position.

Bemidji State and Augustana wrap up its three-game series at 12 p.m. Sunday at BSU Baseball Field.

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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