Grand Forks, N.D. - Junior Jake Magner (Grand Rapids, Minn.) belted six home runs, including a school-record four round-trippers in game two, and drove in 13 runs as the University of North Dakota baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader with New York Tech at Kraft Field.
Magner hit a pair of home runs in an 11-5 loss in game one and the Sioux (8-22, 4-7 GWC) would need all four of his blasts in a thrilling 20-19 victory in game two that earned a split with the Bears (16-15-1, 8-3 GWC).
Magner also drove in a school-record nine runs in the nightcap, but it was a RBI-double by senior Josh Nelson (Apple Valley, Minn.) in the eighth inning that would provide the winning run in a contest that saw the teams combine for 40 hits.
"That second game was by far the most interesting game I have ever been a part of," UND head coach Jeff Dodson said. "Our guys were not going to lose that one and you could feel the intensity in the dugout. They were not going to let Jake hit four home runs and end up on the losing end."
The Sioux first baseman, who had six home runs coming into the day, hit a solo home run in the first and his two-run shot in the second was part of a five-run frame that put UND ahead 7-1. Junior Josh Lagein (Devils Lake, N.D.) also added a two-run homer in the second as well.
UND would tack on four more runs in the third to grow its lead to 11-1. Junior Josh Ray (Yucaipa, Calif.), who went 5-for-6 in game two, hit a two-run shot over the scoreboard in left-center.
Magner's first of two three-run homers came in the fourth and put the Sioux comfortably ahead at 14-3. However, the comfort level would quickly change as the Bears struck for seven runs in the fifth to make it a 14-10 score.
After UND was held scoreless for the first time in the game in the fifth inning, Magner broke the school record with his fourth dinger of the game in the sixth when another three-run shot put the Sioux back up by seven.
"I really felt unconscious out there," Magner said of his record-breaking day. "I was just seeing the ball really well and putting good swings on it, but I am just glad we were able to pull that game out."
The home team would need all nine runs produced by Magner because for the second time in three innings New York Tech came roaring back as they tied it up at 17-17. Right fielder Matthew Carr laced a single into center to a cap the seven-run seventh inning for the visitors.
UND had an answer though as senior Jabby Bakhit (Omaha, Neb.) broke the tie with a RBI single and Lagein made it a two-run cushion with a sacrifice fly to left.
Nelson's run-scoring double in the eighth proved pivotal as it gave reliever Brandon Baumgartner a three-run cushion to work with in the top of the ninth. After getting the first two outs of the frame, which included a spectacular play by Nelson at shortstop, the Sioux left-hander gave up a double to Christian Dienna.
That brought right fielder Dan Lackner to the plate, who hammered a two-run opposite field shot to cut the deficit to one at 20-19. Lackner's blast was the first of game two for the Bears.
Baumgartner got Ryan Campbell to groundout and end a wild, roller-coaster of a game. He picked up his second win in relief in Great West play, while NYIT reliever Jose Checo took the loss after surrendering four earned runs in three innings of relief.
Lagein finished 3-for-4 at the plate with four runs scored and a trio of RBI. Designated hitter Andy Sadler (Grand Forks, N.D.), who singled in front of three of Magner's home runs, went 4-for-5 with four runs scored. Magner also tied the school record with five runs scored.
Carr went 3-for-4 with four RBI to lead a trio of Bears with three hits.
In game one, the Bears scored five unearned runs in the first inning and went on to post an 11-5 victory over the Sioux. NYIT catcher Greg Gilroy hit two home runs, including a three-run shot in the first off UND starter Sam Anderson (Bemidji, Minn.) that proved to be a decisive blow.
Magner tried to keep the Sioux in the game by himself going 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and four RBI, but his efforts could not overcome the early deficit.
Magner put UND on the board with a solo shot in the first and junior college transfer Craig Dolmage (Grants Pass, Ore.) hit his first home run of the season in the second, but that would be as close as the Sioux would draw.
NYIT tacked on two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth to build its advantage to 10-2 before Magner belted a two-run homer in the fifth.
Nelson went 2-for-4 in the opener for his second straight multiple hit game.
Gilroy put up identical numbers to Magner as the Bears had nine hits and took advantage of 11 walks issued by the Sioux pitching staff. Anderson (2-4) took the loss, allowing three hits and two earned runs in 3.1 innings.
Left-hander Andrew Guarrasi picked up the win for NYIT, improving to 4-3 as he picked up his second complete game of the season. He allowed five earned runs on 10 hits.
The Sioux and Bears conclude their four-game Great West series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
