SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Concordia-St. Paul baseball (15-10, 7-9 NSIC) and Northern State (12-14, 7-9 NSIC) finish their four-game series 2-2 after splitting both doubleheaders at Sanford Diamonds.
 
The Golden Bears will return to action next weekend against the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs. Action is projected to occur in Marshall, Minnesota, on Friday at 1:30 p.m.and 3:30 p.m., and Saturday at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. For more information and updates, please visit https://cspbears.com/sports/baseball.
 
GAME ONE: CSP 5 NSU 4
Concordia made it back-to-back wins over the Wolves with a one-run victory in game one. After regaining the lead for the final time in the fourth inning with a pair of runs, CSP went on to claim their 50th all-time win over Northern State.
 
The Golden Bears collected five hits in game one, with catcher Justin McGuigan leading the way with three hits, a run and a stolen base. Nick Thimsen also shined at the plate with a pair of hits and runs scored, while Jaden Werner led the team with two RBIs.
 
Reece Piontek made his sixth start of the season on the bump for the Navy and Gold where he went 1.2 innings with two strikeouts in the no-decision. Michael Chevalier (2-4) was charged with the loss after allowing five earned runs in 5.0 innings pitched.
 
The Golden Bears struck first in the opening inning after Werner put them on the board with a 2-RBI single through the right side that allowed Bennett McCollow and Thimsen to reach home safely. Northern State responded in the bottom of the frame with a run of their own, but Piontek worked out of the bases loaded jam to halt their momentum.
 
After stealing second and advancing to third following a ground out, McGuigan added the third run of the game for CSP following an error from the Wolves shortstop during McCollow's plate appearance in the second inning. However, the Wolves answered strongly with a trio of runs to take their first lead.
 
Concordia found some momentum in the fourth inning with three hits to load the bases. An errant throw from Chevalier with two outs in the inning allowed Koby McBroome to score before another error from the Wolves defense in the following at-bat led to Thimsen scoring the game-winning fifth run.
 
Eric Lundell (3-2) entered for Piontek in the second inning on the bump. The senior collected his third win of the season with a 4.1 inning no-hitter and a team-leading three strikeouts, while Matt Sherman (1) claimed his first save of the season with a pair of strikeouts to secure the 5-4 win.
 
GAME TWO: CSP 5, NSU 6 (11 Innings)
Game two's back-and-forth matchup that hit a stalemate in the seventh and carried until the 11th inning is the longest game between the two ball clubs in series history. An RBI single in extras propelled the Wolves to victory.
 
Concordia collected 14 hits as a team, with five of them going for extra bases (all doubles). McCollow and Thimsen each recorded three-hit games at the plate, while McBroome tallied three runs and a pair of walks.
 
Freshman Ian Segna finished with a pair of strikeouts and walked only one in 5.0 innings in the no-decision. Logan Shaffer entered the game in the sixth inning for Segna, allowing only two hits and a run in 5.0 innings pitched in a solid showing from the bullpen.
 
The Golden Bears picked up right where they left off with a three-run first inning. McBroome opened the game with a lead-off double and was later driven in for the game's first run following an RBI single from McCollow. Mason Nadolney added to the scoring with a 2-RBI double to right center, driving home Thimsen and McCollow to give CSP an early 3-0 lead.
 
The Wolves evened the game with three runs of their own in the bottom half and claimed the lead with a run in the third inning following an RBI single from Michael Benevides.
 
In the fourth, McCollow leveled the game at four runs with his 10th double of the season that carried into the gap in left center to drive in McBroome, who had reached safely earlier in the inning with a leadoff walk.
 
Following a single from McBroome, the Golden Bears regained the lead, 5-4, after Thimsen added the team's fifth double of the game with a missile down the right field line to drive in McBroome for his third run of the game. NSU quickly responded with their fifth run of the game with an RBI single to tie the game back up at 5-5, where it would remain for the next 4 ½ innings.
 
In the ninth, Thimsen led off the inning with a single to left field before Nadolney was intentionally walked and Kal Brohmer saw ball four to load the bases with two outs in the inning. Despite the bases-loaded situation, the Wolves pitcher Jack Miller (1-0) was able to force a groundout to leave the three CSP base runners stranded. Miller would go on to claim his first win of the season.
 
Matt Sherman (3-1) made his second appearance of the day in the bottom of the ninth. The senior started strong with a pair of strikeouts and forced a popup to Brayden Roybal at second base to send the game to extra innings. The lefty finished with a team-leading four strikeouts but was charged with his first loss of the season after the Wolves walked it off with an RBI single in the 11th inning.