SIOUX CITY, Iowa. – Concordia St. Paul baseball (12-14, 8-5 NSIC) split games with the St. Cloud State Huskies (16-11, 8-4 NSIC) on Friday afternoon at Bishop Mueller Field in Sioux City, Iowa after falling 12-1 in game one before claiming a 6-5 thriller in game two.
 
GAME 1: CSP 1, SCSU 12 (Seven Innings)
The Golden Bears were unable to capitalize on their momentum throughout the contest, as they left six runners stranded in a seven-hit effort. The Huskies posted 12 runs on 12 hits in route to the 12-1 victory in game one.
 
St. Cloud State found momentum early as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a three-run shot in the opening frame. The Huskies added a trio of runs in both the fourth and fifth inning to extend their lead to 9-0.
 
Nick Thimsen led the Golden Bears with a 2-3 outing from the plate. The Junior outfielder scored the lone run for the CSP after a fielding error from the Huskies following a single from Koby McBroome allowed him to score, making the score 9-1.
 
SCSU added to the final three runs of the contest in the sixth inning to secure the 12-1 win.
 
Korey Dahlberg (3-4) started on the bump for CSP in game one. The sophomore finished with a strikeout and walked only one batter in 4.0 innings. Carter Schulte and Evan Eberle both made appearances in relief for the Golden Bears.
 
GAME 2: CSP 6, SCSU 5
The Golden Bears used a strong hitting performance to secure the 6-5 victory and doubleheader split with the Huskies.
 
As a team, Concordia collected 11 hits, four RBIs and stole three bases. Mason Nadolney provided an edge offensively for the Golden Bears after the junior finished with a pair of solo home runs on a 3-4 outing at the plate, while also driving in two runs and scoring twice. Justin McGuigan and Brayden Roybal also had strong performances at the plate, as each of their hits went for doubles.
 
Jonah Lewis (2-3) collected his second winning decision of the season with a strong showing from the mound in game two. The junior went five full innings with a strikeout, while allowing five hits, one run and one walk. Eric Lundell picked up his second save of the season for the Golden Bears and Matt Sherman added 1.2 innings of work from the bullpen.
 
After neither team plated a run in the opening innings, McGuigan hit an RBI double that drove in Jaden Werner in the second inning to put CSP on the board first.
 
The Huskies tied the game 1-1 in the third with home rule. However, CSP regained the lead in the very next inning after Nadolney hit his first home run of the game over the fence in left center.
 
CSP added an insurance run after a successful double steal in the sixth inning saw Nadolney snatch second while Thimsen stole home to extend their lead to 3-1.
 
The seventh innings saw both teams score, as Bryce Nelson drove McGuigan in with an RBI single to center field in the top of the inning before the Huskies answered with a pair of runs of their own to bring them within one run.
 
Nadolney added his third home run of the season and second on the afternoon in the eighth, while Roybal scored the final run of the for CSP off a wild pitch in the ninth to give the Golden Bears a two run advantage heading into the final half inning of play.
 
After the Huskies scored off an RBI double and had runners on first and second and one out, the Golden Bears' defense sealed the deal as they turned 6-4-3 grounded double play to end the game and secure the 6-5 victory.
 
UP NEXT: Concordia baseball will return to action tomorrow afternoon for the series finale against the St. Cloud State Huskies at Wayne Ball Park in Wayne, Nebraska. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.