DATE: April 21, 2007
Samuelson leads Beavers with four RBI

BEMIDJ, Minn. (BSU Baseball Field) - [Game 1] [Game 2]- The Bemidji State University baseball team dropped both games of a twinbill to the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs today at the BSU Baseball Field. The Mustangs scored seven runs in the top of the seventh inning to garner a 10-7 come from behind win in Game 1, and then shutdown the Beavers offense in Game 2 to take the night cap 6-2.

The Beavers recorded a season high of sixteen hits in Game 1, but the Mustangs made a seventh inning rally to up-end the Beavers, 10-7. This was the second consecutive game that the Beavers gave up a lead in the seventh inning. Southwest Minnesota State struck first, Andy Cooke led off the game with a homerun to right field to give the Mustangs and early 1-0 lead. The Beavers tied the contest at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning on a RBI single by Tony Samuelson (Pine City, Minn.).

The Beavers took the lead in the third inning when Anthony Stoloski (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) came around to score, giving the Beavers a 2-1 advantage. Both teams scored a run in the fourth and fifth innings, with the Beavers holding onto a 4-3 lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning. The Beavers loaded the bases with two outs for Samuelson. Samuelson hit a bases clearing double to push the Beaver lead to 7-3 going into the top of the seventh inning.

Southwest Minnesota State rallied in the seventh inning scoring seven runs on six hits on one error to take its first lead since the top of the first inning when the Mustangs lead 1-0. The Beavers loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning but was unable to push any runs across and would fall to a late inning comeback by the Mustangs, 10-7.

Josh Langle (Thief River Falls, Minn.) went 6 1/3 innings surrendering six runs (six earned) on nine hits with five strikeouts. Kevin Morel (Shoreview, Minn.) went 2/3 of an inning of relief allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits with one strikeout and one walk. Morel took the loss dropping is record to 1-3 on the season.

Aaron Lindstrom got the start for the Mustangs going 4 1/3 innings, surrendering four runs (three earned) on eleven hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Nick Cobb and Aaron Olson pitched in relief for the Mustangs; Cobb pitched 1 2/3 of an inning allowing three runs (three earned) on three hits while Olson gave up just two hits and one walk in 1.0 inning of work. Cobb picked his first win of the season for the Mustangs and Olson garnered his third save of the season.

Eric Pilgrim (Park Rapids, Minn.) and Mike Wagnor (Plymouth, N.H.) led the Beavers with three hits apiece. Samuelson went 2-for-3 with four RBI.

The visitors used solo homeruns in the first and second inning to lead the Mustangs to a 6-2 victory in Game 2.

The Mustangs once again took an early lead in the first inning off a homerun. Greg Laughlin hit a solo shot to left field to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead. The Mustangs played long ball once again in the second inning pushing its lead to 2-0. This time it was Derek West’s turn as he led the second inning off with a solo shot over the center field wall.

The Beavers cut the two run deficit to one run in the bottom of the second inning on Mike Wagner’s RBI single to left field. Southwest Minnesota State pushed its lead to 4-1 scoring one run in the third and sixth inning. The Beavers plated its second run of the game in the bottom of the sixth on a RBI single to right field by Brian Simon (Owatonna, Minn.) to bring the Beavers within striking distance.

The Mustangs got a couple insurance runs in the top half of the seventh taking advantage of a Bemidji State error pushing their lead to 6-2. The Mustangs shut down the Beavers offense in the bottom of the seventh inning to take Game 2, 6-2.

Josh Juntunen (Elk River, Minn.) pitched six innings for the Beavers allowing four runs (three earned) on ten hits, garnering five strikeouts. Karl Willers (Slayton, Minn.) made the lone relief appearance for the Beavers pitching one inning of relief surrendering two runs (one earned) on just one hit. Juntunen took the loss dropping his record to 0-7 on the season.

Jared Pick pitched five strong innings for the Mustangs allowing two run (two earned) on just four hits with two strikeouts and three walks. Brandon Wilhelmi made the only relief appearance for the Mustangs, allowing no runs on two hits with two strikeouts in two innings of work. Pick picked up his first win of the season improving his record to 1-4, while Wilhelmi garnered his second save of the season.

Pilgrim and Wagner led the Beavers at the plate each going 2-for-3.

Bemidji State (6-31 / 4-14 NSIC) and Southwest Minnesota State (19-11 / 10-6) will wrap up its four game weekend series tomorrow afternoon. Game 1 of the double-header is slated for a 12:00 p.m. start.

--beavers--