PHOTOS (by Kris Fasnacht)

MINNEAPOLIS - The Concordia-St. Paul baseball team opened the 2013 season today against Northern State with a split in a pair of close games at Metrodome. In game one, the Golden Bears won 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning on a game-winning RBI single to right center by Greg Larpenter (Urbandale, Iowa) with one out. In the game two loss, the Golden Bears had the tying run on second in the sixth inning and the tying run at the plate in the seventh inning.

GAME 1: Concordia-St. Paul 5, Northern State 4
Concordia went ahead 3-0 in the third inning on a two-run triple to center field by Paul Giel III (Minnetonka, Minn.) and he'd score on Kyle Dalton (Minnetonka, Minn.) groundout to short.

The score remained 3-0 Golden Bears until the sixth inning.

Senior right hander Andy Fagely (Mahtomedi, Minn.) was outstanding in his season debut, shutting out the Wolves for the first five innings before allowing a two-out run scoring double in the sixth. He finished his day after six innings, tying his career-high with eight strikeouts. He allowed just one run while scattering six hits and a walk.

The Golden Bears took a 3-1 lead into the seventh inning, but with two outs and a run already in the Wolves scratched out two runs on a three base error on a fly ball to right field to take a 4-3 lead.

In the seventh inning, Concordia rallied. Eric Fasnacht (Eden Prairie, Minn.) reached on a two-base error with one out to turn the lineup over to the top. Giel followed with a sharp RBI single down the left field line to tie the game at four. Dalton walked to put the game winning run, Giel, in scoring position. The Golden Bears opted to pinch run newcomer Trevon Bargfrede (Jackson, Minn.) for Giel at second, with Larpenter at the plate. Larpenter delivered the game-winner on a rope to right center.

Giel went 2-for-4 with three RBI in the game, hitting Concordia's only extra base hit of the game. Larpenter was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The win went to junior right handed reliever Colton Petron (New Ulm, Minn.) as he allowed one earned run (three runs) in one inning of work, striking out two in his Concordia debut.

The loss went to Northern State reliever Adam Thompson, allowing one earned run (two runs) in 0.1 inning in the seventh.

GAME 2: Northern State 3, Concordia-St. Paul 1
In game two, the Golden Bears went to freshman left hander Zach Rengel (Fergus Falls, Minn.), who promptly recorded six of his first eight outs via the strikeout. He would finish 5.0 innings with the six strikeouts for the game. He allowed only three hits and didn't issue any walks but allowed three runs (two earned).

The Wolves picked up a big two-out, two-run double in the second inning off the rookie southpaw, though. Rengel responded by striking out the next batter. He allowed an unearned run in the third inning on a three base throwing error.

He grew up quickly in the fourth inning, stranding a one-out triple on third base and he retired the final five batters he faced - four via groundouts.

He was outdueled by Northern State left hander Sean Winslow, working 5.0 innings while scattering four hits and two walks to earn the win.

The Golden Bears only had one runner in scoring position against Winslow in his five innings.

Trailing 3-0 entering the sixth inning, Concordia started to rally against the NSU bullpen. With two outs and no one on in the sixth, Elliot Powell (Minnetonka, Minn.) delivered a double to the opposite field in left and moved to third and scored on consecutive wild pitches. The Golden Bears continued to rally, with a walk and a pair of singles before the Wolves turned to the bullpen to shut down the rally with Clint Manzo.

Manzo finished the game for the Wolves, getting the save with a pair of strikeouts in 1.1 innings.

Concordia returns to the Metrodome on Sunday with another non-conference doubleheader against an NSIC team from South Dakota against Augustana at 3:30 p.m.