Matt Treybig and Josh McKeon pitched solid games for Upper Iowa today, but they were outdone by their counterparts, Ryan Sander and Phil Bray, as the Bemidji State Beavers claimed a pair of low-scoring, one-run decisions. Bemidji State won game one 1-0 and then earned a 3-2 win in 11 innings in game two.

 

Detailed recaps of each game can be found below.

 

The pair of losses dropped UIU’s record to 6-7 overall and 0-2 early in the Northern Sun Conference season. The two teams will be back on Robertson Woods Field tomorrow for another NSIC double header tomorrow. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for noon.

 

The Beavers got on the board in the first inning after putting two runners in scoring position with no outs. The run was scored by BSU’s Colton Smith after a lead-off walk when Zach Braun grounded out to pick up the rbi.

 

Peacock starter Matt Treybig got stronger as the game moved forward by picking up four strikeouts in the fourth and fifth innings. The right hander finished the game with six strikeouts in seven innings.

 

With one out In the bottom of the fourth, Kody McCauley doubled down the right-field line to get in scoring position only to be stifled by BSU’s Ryan Sander. The Beaver pitcher forced a groundout and ended the side with a strikeout.

 

In the bottom of the fifth with runners on the corners and two outs, the Peacock scoring chance was nullified once again by Sander. Sander used a strikeout to end the Peacock rally.

 

The Peacocks defense stayed strong over the remaining innings highlighted by a nice throw from catcher William Loza to catch a Beaver baserunner at second to end the sixth. Loza then teamed up with left fielder Kody McCauley to cut a run down at the plate to end the seventh.

 

In the bottom of the seventh, the Peacocks got a single from Luis Rodriguez through the left side and a walk by Loza with one out. The Peacocks were unable to push the tying run across the plate as Sander forced a fly out and a ground out to end the threat and the give the visitors a 1-0 victory. 

 

The Beaver victory gave Sander a 1-0 record on the season and dropped Treybig to 1-2 despite a solid outing. 

 

 

The Peacocks opened up the second game with some early offense by Rudy Casillas, who hit a single and advanced to second on a fielder’s choice, and Patrick Arntson, who hit an rbi-single for the first run of the contest.

 

The Beaver’s rallied and answered UIU’s first score with a run of their own in the top of the second. The unearned run was driven in by Matt Ellinghuysen after the inning opened with a misplay of a popup behind second base.

 

Through the first seven innings UIU and BSU both played stingy defense with a series of excellent defensive plays highlighted by a sliding snag of a foul ball by UIU first baseman Matt Smoley into the BSU dugout to end the fifth inning. Both starters, Josh McKeon for UIU and Phil Bray for BSU, took control of the contest with several strikeouts for each hurler.

 

The eighth inning was full of suspense when the Beavers broke the game’s scoring stand in the top of the eighth with a second unearned run to make the score 2-1 in BSU’s favor. The Peacocks retaliated with a single by Arntson and an rbi-double by Luis Rodriguez to knot the game up at 2-2.

The game moved to extra innings as McKeon remained on the mound for the Peacocks to continue his strong outing with two more strikeouts to close out the tenth inning before being relieved by Cole Hanson prior to the eleventh.

 

In the top of the eleventh the Beavers got a lead-off walk which they converted into the go-ahead run thanks to an rbi-single from Juan Molero that put BSU up 3-2 heading into the bottom of the inning.

 

The Peacocks were unable to push the tying run across the plate as BSU picked up the two game sweep thanks to the extra inning victory.

 

The Peacocks recorded 11 hits in the game including four by shortstop Rudy Casillas and three by designated hitter Patrick Arntson. Luis Rodriguez also added a pair of base hits.

 

McKeon earned a hard luck no-decision after throwing 10 innings while allowing 5 hits and two unearned runs. He walked three and struck out nine Beaver batters.

 

Phil Bray also earned a no-decision after a top notch performance. Bray allowed 10 hits while striking out 12 over eight innings.