BEMIDJI, Minn. - Senior catcher Brooks Beilke (Buffalo, Minn.) went 7-for-10 while driving in eight runs in two games today as Concordia-St. Paul (19-11, 11-9 NSIC) split with Bemidji State (16-15, 10-8 NSIC) on Saturday afternoon at BSU Baseball Field. Beilke went 5-for-5 in the first game, driving in seven runs in a 23-9 win before going 2-for-5 with an RBI in a 6-5 game two loss.

Bemidji State takes three out of four in the series to move percentage points ahead of Concordia for sixth in the NSIC Standings. The Golden Bears, in seventh, are just percentage points ahead of eighth-place Northern State (12-10). The three teams are in a virtual tie in terms of games, however, and just a half game behind Wayne State (13-10) for fifth place.

Beilke raised his average from .329 to .371 in the doubleheader.

The Golden Bears will now travel to Marshall, Minn. to take on Southwest Minnesota State (8-11, 9th) on Wednesday, April 23. The Golden Bears have never played SMSU on its campus field.

GAME 1: Concordia 23, BSU 9
The Golden Bears took their first lead of the series in the first inning when Beilke delivered a two-run double to left center field, scoring junior Tyler Krekling and sophomore Ryan Poppitz.

BSU tied the game in the bottom of the inning, looking to keep its momentum from Friday's sweep.

In the second inning, redshirt freshman Joe Muench pulled a three-run home run to right field to cap off a seven run inning that also included a two-run single by Beilke to the opposite field.

With a 9-2 lead, sophomore right handed starter Yuji Suzuki could breathe easier on the hill.

He retired BSU in order in the second inning as part of a six straight outs.

Concorida kept up the offensive heat, scoring two more in the third as Beilke drove in a run on an infield single before an eight run fourth inning blew the game open for a 19-3 lead.

Beilke wasn't the only Golden Bear to dominate at the plate. Senior Drew Turk went 4-6 with two runs and three RBI and Poppitz went 4-6 with five runs and three RBI along with his eighth double.

Two others had three hit days as junior Kyle Dalton went 3-5 with three runs, his sixth double and an RBI and sophomore Alex LaPorte went 3-4 with three runs.

Muench would drive in two more runs with a single in the eight run fourth inning as he drove in five runs in the game, going 2-6.

Krekling scored four times out of the second spot, as well, going 2-4 with an RBI.

Concordia scored at least a run in six of the seven innings and scored at least two runs in the first five innings.

Suzuki picked up his first win, although BSU didn't make it easy on him. Suzuki was hit for seven runs on 12 hits in 5.1 innings as he improved to 2-1 on the season.

Freshman Hunter Lindstrom finished the game, working 1.2 innings out of the bullpen allowing two runs on three hits.

BSU used five different pitchers, with none lasting more than two innings. Luke Benge was the only Beaver to hold Concordia without a run or a hit, as he was solid in 2.0 innings of relief.

GAME 2: BSU 6, Concordia 5
The Beavers once again scored early in the series finale, plating two runs in the first inning off freshman Josh Lenz in his second start of the year.

He settled into a major groove after the first inning, though, retiring the next 13 batters to get through a solid five innings.

The hot streak by the rookie southpaw allowed the Bears to claw back into the game and into the lead.

Despite stranding the bases loaded in the second and runners on first and third in the third inning, Concordia kept coming back at BSU.

In the fourth, junior Trevon Bargfrede singled through the left side with one out and stole second base. He scored with two outs on a single to center by Dalton to cut the lead in half.

Bargfrede had a big day, going 3-4 with a walk, run, RBI and a steal after going 1-2 with a double, RBI and run in the first game off the bench. He's raised his average to .275 with the 4-6 doubleheader performance.

In the top of the fifth, Concordia gave the lead to Lenz. A leadoff double by Poppitz set the tone, while Beilke drove him in with a single to right center. After a single by Turk, Bargfrede delivered a two out RBI single through the left side for the 3-2 lead.

Concordia tacked on a run in the sixth with Poppitz scoring LaPorte with an RBI ground out.

In the bottom of the inning, BSU finally broke through against Lenz. A leadoff walk and single through the left put two aboard with no outs. After a sacrifice bunt, the Golden Bears appeared to have slowed the rally by picking off the runner on third base. But a two out, two run single by cleanup hitter Bo Schmitz tied the game at 4-4. Lenz struck out Cole Bjorge to end the inning.

He left with the game tied at 4-4 after six innings. He allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out six in a solid start. He only needed 76 pitches while making his first start since March 12. In his two starts, Lenz has pitched six innings each time, allowing nine total hits with 13 strikeouts in a promising start to his career at Concordia.

The Golden Bears would take the lead back in the top of the eighth as LaPorte led off with a double to center, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored with one out on a suicide squeeze bunt by Krekling.

In the bottom of the inning, a pair of leadoff walks by freshman Kevin Woebke would prove costly.

After getting through a solid seventh inning without allowing a hit (two reached on error), Woebke would be done after the two walks.

Right handed relief specialist Colton Petron came in to close the door and promptly recorded a strikeout to start the process. But a two run double by Bjorge gave BSU the lead back. Petron would get out of the inning without further damage as the Beavers led 6-5 entering the top of the ninth.

After two outs to start the inning, Bargfrede singled to short while senior Elliot Powell followed with a walk. The pair advanced to second and third on a wild pitch but were stranded as LaPorte's grounder to short ended the game.

Woebke took the loss, falling to 1-2 despite not allowing a hit in his 1.0-plus inning of relief. Petron was not charged with a run in his 1.0 inning, striking out two.

Drake Huggans picked up the win in relief for BSU, working the final 3.0 innings to improve to 1-1. He allowed a run on three hits and three walks with a strikeout.

Concordia picked up 13 hits in the game and drew four walks but stranded 13 on base including seven in scoring position. BSU only had seven hits and three walks but only left seven on base in the game.

SERIES NOTES
Beilke hit .600 (9-15) on the weekend with eight RBI ... Poppitz hit .500 (8-16) with four RBI and seven runs... the 3-4 hitters in the lineup had two doubles each ... Bargfrede hit a scorching .714 (5-7) with two walks and only one strikeout for a .778 OBP ... seven Golden Bears hit .385 or better as the team hit .379 for the weekend ... despite losing the series 3-1, Concordia was only outscored by one run, 30-to-29 and out-hit BSU (.379/.442/.455 to .331/.408/.435) across the board.