April 16, 2003
Shaun Ross hits two home runs for BSU in losing effort

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - [box score] Bemidji State’s Shaun Ross homered twice, but it was not enough for the Beavers as they dropped an 11-8 decision to the North Dakota Fighting Sioux this afternoon in non-conference action at Kraft Memorial Field.

Ross became the first BSU player to swat two home runs in a game this season, and first since Scott Petrowski hit two in Game 1 of a double-header against Wayne State (Neb.) on April 13, 2002. Ross cracked a two-run home run in the top of the first inning to give BSU a 2-0 advantage, then hit a three-run blast with two out in the fifth to pull BSU back within three runs at 9-6.

Ross finished the afternoon 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a BSU season-high five RBI. The five RBI for Ross mark his best effort since also notching five RBI in Game 2 of a double-header against Minn.-Crookston on April 17, 2002.

Despite Ross’s heroics, BSU could not overcome a North Dakota offense which scored in bunches early in the contest. The Sioux responded to the first Ross home run with four runs in the home half of the first. UND’s first four runners of the game reached base, with the third - B DeVillers - cracking a three-run shot out of the park to set the tone for the afternoon.

BSU starter Mike Fore finished the second inning, a frame which saw him throw a wild pitch and hit a batter, but was replaced with William Pineiro for the third. Pineiro got off to a quick start, striking out the first batter he faced, but then hit Brad Jaeger, gave up a two-RBI double to Travis Koehn two batters later, and allowed Koehn to score on a wild pitch before finally retiring the side with a pair of flyouts. The three runs put UND up 8-3 heading into the top of the fourth and essentially put the game out of reach.

The Beavers attempted to put together a rally in the top of the fourth, plating four runs with the big blow coming from Ross in the form of his three-run home run. But the Sioux answered with a run in the fourth and a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to run to an 11-6 edge.

North Dakota sent starter Jeff Reinke to the showers after six innings, bringing Nate Brown on to close out the game. BSU tried to get a rally going against Brown, picking up a two-run double from Tony Klaers with one out in the inning to score Ross and John Czech. But Brown shut the door, inducing a flyout to left against Dan Marshall and striking out John Grindeland looking to wrap the 11-8 UND victory.

Fore took the loss for BSU and saw his record fall to 0-2 on the season. He allowed five runs (all earned) on five hits, while striking out three and walking three. Pineiro pitched three innings, allowing six runs (all earned) on eight hits. He struck out two and walked none. Jeff Sjaaheim pitched a scoreless sixth and allowed just one hit and one walk.

Reinke picked up the win for UND despite allowing six runs (all earned) on seven hits. He struck out four and walked two while improving his pitching slate to 2-1 on the season. Brown worked the seventh, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit. He struck out two and walked one.

Game 2 was called with the score tied 0-0 heading into the bottom of the second inning due to deteriorating weather conditions in Grand Forks. No makeup date was announced, and none is expected at this time. It is BSU’s first weather-related cancellation of the season.

The Game 1 loss was BSU’s 12th consecutive loss in non-conference play, dating back to an 8-7 win over Wayne State (Mich.) on March 11, 2003. BSU’s next scheduled non-conference action comes April 22, when the team travels to St. Cloud State for a 1:30 p.m. Central double-header.

The Beavers fell to 8-19 on the season with the loss and saw their two-game winning streak come to an end. North Dakota improved to 16-10 on the year. BSU returns to action April 18 when it plays host to Southwest State in a four-game NSIC series. First pitch for the April 18 double-header is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Central, while the April 19 twinbill gets underway at noon. All four games will be played at the BSU Baseball Field on the Bemidji State campus.