Souix Falls SD – The University of Jamestown baseball team split a doubleheader against Bemidji State University on Wednesday afternoon at Ronken Field. The Jimmies took game one by a score of 6-5 and the Beavers salvaged a split with a 9-7 victory in game two.

Game One Summary
Jamestown established momentum immediately, putting up two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Melvin Maldonado opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Mathieu Morin. Ben Swennumson followed with an RBI double to right field, plating Adrian Warcken to make it 2-0.

The Jimmies extended their advantage to 5-0 in the bottom of the second inning. Morin ripped a two-run double to left field, bringing home Grant Chapman and Julian Romero. Warcken then drove in Morin with a sacrifice fly to left field.

Bemidji State began to claw back into the game in the fourth inning when Matt Filippi launched a two-run home run to right field. The Beavers trimmed the deficit further in the fifth, scoring on an RBI single by Hunter Hyden and an error by the Jamestown catcher to make it a 5-4 game.

In the top of the sixth, Bemidji State’s Beau Thoma tied the game at 5-5 with a solo home run to left-center.

Jamestown responded quickly in the bottom of the sixth to reclaim the lead for good. Julian Romero walked, and Frankie Malagon singled to left field. With Dallas Cummins pinch-running for Romero, Reese Logsdon delivered a clutch RBI single to score Cummins and put the Jimmies back on top, 6-5.

Top Performers

  • Mathieu Morin (UJ): 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, 3 SB, BB
  • Reese Logsdon (UJ): 1-for-1, RBI, BB, SH
  • Ben Swennumson (UJ): 1-for-3, 2B, RBI
  • Beau Thoma (BSU): 2-for-4, HR, RBI, 2 R
  • Matt Filippi (BSU): 1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI, R, 2 BB, SB

Pitching Lines
Elias Harris (3-1) earned the win in relief after pitching two innings, allowing one run on one hit, walking one and striking out two. Isaac Hanson started for UJ and went 4 1/3 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits, striking out six and walking three. Grayson Sargent came on in relief of Hanson in the fifth and recorded two strikeouts while walking one.

Andrew Murphy (0-2) took the loss for BSU despite surrendering just one run on two hits in four innings. Beau Barry started on the mound but lasted just 1 1/3 innings, giving up five runs on three hits and walking three.

Game Two Summary
The Jimmies put together a furious late-inning rally but ultimately fell 9-7 to the Beavers in game two. UJ chipped away at an early deficit, but BSU held on to secure the victory in the nightcap.

Bemidji State jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning. Beau Thoma doubled to left field and came home on a single by Hunter Hyden. After Noah Drusch and Matt Filippi walked to load the bases, Nash Rubins reached on a fielder’s choice to score Hyden and put the Beavers up 3-0.

Jamestown responded in the bottom of the first when Mathieu Morin crushed a solo home run to left field to cut the deficit to 3-1.

However, the Beavers exploded for four more runs in the top of the second. Thoma connected on a three-run home run to left field, scoring Jack Feldman and Hudson Filippi. Later in the inning, Hyden scored on a passed ball to make it 7-1.

The Jimmies slowly began to chip away at the lead in the third inning. After a single by Benney Benitez and a walk to Reese Logsdon, Morin ripped a two-run double to left field to bring them both home, making it 7-3. In the bottom of the fourth, Julian Romero added an RBI single to score Ben Swennumson and trim the lead to 7-4.

Bemidji State added a crucial run in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI single by Matt Filippi, pushing their lead to 8-4.

UJ refused to go quietly, battling back in the eighth inning. Jacob Thomas sparked the rally with a solo home run to left field. Melvin Maldonado followed immediately with a solo home run of his own, bringing the Jimmies within two runs at 9-6.

Jamestown continued to fight in the ninth. With two outs, Thomas ripped an RBI double to right field to score Morin and make it a 9-7 game. Maldonado singled to put runners on the corners, but the rally fell short as Swennumson flied out and Jett Nelson struck out to end the game.

Top Performers

  • Mathieu Morin (UJ): 2-for-3, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, SB
  • Jacob Thomas (UJ): 2-for-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, R
  • Melvin Maldonado (UJ): 3-for-5, HR, RBI, R
  • Beau Thoma (BSU): 2-for-5, 2 HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R
  • Hunter Hyden (BSU): 3-for-4, 3 R, BB

Pitching Lines
Nolan McCaffery (1-4) took the loss for Jamestown, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks in an inning-plus of work. The Jimmie bullpen was busy, with Kai Mayfield tossing 4 1/3 strong innings, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out four. Ben Patton, Grayson Sargent, Ben Bohlmann, Beckett Stimpson, and Luke Zimmer all made relief appearances.

Jacob Smith (1-2) earned the win in relief for Bemidji State, pitching five innings and allowing two runs on five hits while striking out one. Castle Huggard picked up his second save of the season, recording the final four outs of the game.

Up Next
The Jimmies are scheduled to play Minnesota Duluth in a weekend series beginning on Saturday in Duluth.