The University of Minnesota Duluth baseball team swept Bemidji State University Thursday afternoon in Bemidji, Minn. at the BSU Baseball Field by scores of 9-8 and 9-6 to extend the Bulldogs current winning streak to three games.
Game One, 9-8 UMD Win
UMD secured an early lead in the first inning with Gabe Richardson and Troy Lynch each hitting solo home runs to left field. The Beavers responded with a sacrifice fly, to make it 2–1 in favor of the Bulldogs after the first inning.
In the second inning, the Bulldogs extended their lead significantly. Hayden Anthony singled to center field, driving in two runs. Following a pitching change, Lynch added another run with a sacrifice fly. Logan Myers doubled, bringing home Anthony. Two additional runs scored on wild pitches, and Garrett Stauffacher's RBI single capped off the inning, giving the Bulldogs an 8–1 advantage.
BSU narrowed the gap in the third inning, scoring five runs on a series of singles and a throwing error, reducing UMD's lead to 8–6.
In the fifth, the Bulldogs added a run with Thomas Hanson's sacrifice fly, while the Beavers answered with a two-run homer from Falcon. This exchange brought the score to 9–8 in favor of the Bulldogs.
The final innings saw no further scoring, as UMD's bullpen, led by Brady Schornstein and Joe Gizzi, secured the win. Schornstein pitched two and 1/3 scoreless innings, and Gizzi struck out two in the final inning to earn the save.
Caden Klebba started on the mound for UMD, pitching four innings and allowing 11 hits, with eight runs and six earned runs, alongside three strikeouts and a single walk. Despite the high number of hits, Klebba managed to record 50 strikes out of 77 pitches. Schornstein delivered a strong relief performance without conceding a hit, run, or walk. Gizzi secured his second save of the season by retiring two batters in 2/3 of an inning, striking out both and maintaining a hitless appearance.
Anthony drove in two runs, contributing significantly to UMD's offensive efforts, while Richardson scored twice and hit a home run, adding to the team's momentum. Lynch also hit a home run and collected two RBIs, further bolstering the lineup, and Henry Bushey added three hits,
Game Two, 9-6 UMD Win
Bemidji State opened the game with a two-run homer by Hyden, taking an early lead over UMD. The inning ended with Bemidji State ahead 2-0.
UMD responded in the second inning with a solo home run by Nikhil Kandi. A balk later allowed Henry Bushey to score from third, tying the game at 2-2. Bemidji State regained its lead with two runs, including an RBI double by Falcon, ending the inning 4-2.
Hayden Anthony and Troy Lynch each hit solo homers in the third inning, leveling the score at 4-4. The Beavers added one more run in its half, taking a 5-4 edge.
In the sixth inning, Michael Gabbard's double down the left-field line brought home Bushey, tying the game once more at 5-5. Gabbard's performance was stellar, as he recorded a season-high three runs batted in.
The Bulldogs took the lead in the seventh when Gabe Richardson's double scored Anthony, making it 6-5 – and giving UMD at least three doubles in four consecutive games.
Gabbard struck again in the eighth inning with a two-run homer, extending the lead to 8-5. Bemidji State managed one run in the bottom half, narrowing the gap to 8-6.
Garrett Stauffacher added an insurance run with a solo home run in the ninth inning. Stauffacher's contribution was consistent, as he recorded at least two hits in two consecutive games. UMD's defense held in the final frame, securing a 9-6 victory.
Ayden Lysaght started the game for the Bulldogs, pitching three innings and allowing five earned runs on six hits, including one home run, while striking out one batter. Liam Kruse followed with three strong innings, yielding just one hit and striking out three, earning the win with a scoreless performance. Zak Brown added a hitless inning with one strikeout and one walk, maintaining the lead. Thomas Hanson closed the game, securing the save with one inning of work, allowing one hit without surrendering a run. Hanson also registered a season-high total of two ground outs recorded, contributing significantly to the defensive effort.
Anthony made a strong impact by scoring two runs, collecting three hits, and hitting a home run, while Lynch contributed with a home run as part of his two-hit performance, adding one RBI. Kandi also showcased his power by hitting a home run and driving in one run, and Michael Gabbard delivered a significant offensive performance with three RBIs and a home run in his two-hit game.
UMD's five home runs was a season-high.
The Bulldogs now own a record of 13-26 and is 12-15 in NSIC play. UMD will head to Bismarck, ND to face the University of Mary on Saturday in a doubleheader that is set to get underway at 1:30 p.m.
