FAYETTE, IOWA ? The Fighting Sioux baseball team split their doubleheader with Upper Iowa University. In the first game, North Dakota broke out the bats with 12 hits and eight runs to cruise to the 8-1 victory. In the second game, the bats took a break as the Sioux managed only six hits and left seven runners on base in the 4-1 loss. With the split, North Dakota has a record of 6-6 and Upper Iowa is 10-10.
Game 1 - North Dakota - 8 Upper Iowa - 1
In the first game of the double dip, the Fighting Sioux got on the board early and often. In the top of the first, lead-off hitter, Tyler Frenzel singled and stole second base. Frenzel advanced to third base on a passed by the Upper Iowa catcher. Freshmen Anthony Brenner would single up-the-middle with two outs to bring home Frenzel for the first run of the game. Andrew Gudmunson would follow suit with a single to right-center to score Chris Gulsvig from second to give the Sioux the early 2-0 lead.
In the second inning, freshman catcher, Ryne Jungling would lead-off the inning with a single and would advance to second on a passed ball and then to third on a wild pitch. Frenzel would bring Jungling in with a sacrifice fly to centerfield. Senior Mike Lundeen followed up the sacrifice fly with a double to left-center. Nate Meissner followed Lundeen's double with a pop fly to rightfield that was dropped and allowed Lundeen to score from second base and would give the Sioux a 4-1 lead.
In the third inning, the Sioux would add another run after Bo Stanley singled to bring in Gudmunson. The Sioux would add three more runs in the fifth inning to seal the 8-1 victory. The 5-8 hitters were the story of the game for the Sioux. They went 9-14 at the plate with five runs scored.
Leading the way for the Sioux hitters was Ryne Jungling. Jungling went 3-3 with two runs scored, a walk and an RBI. Anthony Brenner, Andrew Gudmunson, and Tim Burns each added two hits and a run apiece to the North Dakota offense.
North Dakota got an outstanding pitching performance from Rob Bird Horse. Bird Horse pitched a complete game and allowed only four hits while striking out three and walking three. With the victory, Bird Horse improves to 1-1 on the season for the Fighting Sioux.
Game 2 ? North Dakota 1 Upper Iowa - 4
In the second game, the Fighting Sioux were unable to break through against Upper Iowa left-hander Andy Seabrooke. Seabrooke kept the Sioux hitters off-balance with his variety of off-speed and breaking pitches.
The Sioux did manage six hits off the lefty, but managed to strand seven runners on-base. North Dakota stranded a runner in every inning of the game.
North Dakota scored its only run of the game in the third inning when Tyler Merkel scored on Chris Gulsvig's single.
Pitcher Michael Lueck took the loss for the Sioux after pitching 4 1/3 innings. Lueck walked three and struck out two while giving up five hits. All four of the Peacock runs were earned. With the loss, Lueck falls to 1-3 on the year for the Fighting Sioux.
Offensively, the Sioux were led by senior Mike Lundeen. Lundeen went 2-2 with a sacrifice bunt. Tyler Frenzel, Nate Meissner, Chris Gulsvig, and Andrew Gudmunson each added a hit in the loss.
The Sioux return to action on Monday in non-conference action against the University of Mary. North Dakota will play a doubleheader in Bismarck, N.D. with the first game starting at 2 p.m. (CST).
Extra Notes
- Senior Mike Lundeen extended his hitting streak to five games with his three hits in the two games.
- Senior Nate Meissner's five-game hitting streak came to an end in the first game after going 0-4.
- Catcher Ryne Jungling had an outstanding series as he finished 5-8 with four runs scored and an RBI.
- Rob Bird Horse's complete game victory was his first complete game of the season. It was also Bird Horse's first collegiate victory with the Fighting Sioux baseball program.
