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Bison stampede biteless Huskies
By Drew Herron
Published:
Monday, April 28, 2003
Media Credit: scott theisen
Joe Durham slides safely into second base in the fifth inning of Sunday�s first game against NDSU. Durham reached second due to an error by the Bison shortstop.
Media Credit: scott theisen
Parnell O�Conner leaps to home plate as his SCSU teammates congratulate him on a grand slam that tied up the game in the bottom of the seventh inning in Sunday�s first game against NDSU.
Hard luck found the Huskies again this weekend as they dropped four games to North Dakota State at Dick Putz Field.
The Bison snapped a four-game skid and added to the Huskies' losing streak as they beat SCSU 15-2 and 7-3 Saturday and 8-6 and 20-12 Sunday.
The Bison turned in an impressive offensive performance Saturday. NDSU banged-out 32 hits, fueled by the team's top three hitters; second baseman Brandon Olson, catcher Chris Baso and shortstop Jeremiah Piepkorn. The trio combined for 12 hits and 11 RBI's. But it was Piepkorn, who proved to be the Bison's deadliest weapon, having a career day. He went five-for-five with two home runs, a double and five RBI's.
The Huskies could only muster six hits and one earned run against Bison starter Mike Peschel, who had more than enough run support to win his fifth straight start, striking out eight. Dustin Fenwick and Zach Bertschi were the only Huskies who collected multiple hits on Peschel, who cruised for most of the afternoon.
Nick Miller took the loss for the Huskies, lasting just one inning. Miller allowed five hits and seven earned runs. Chase Nelson relieved Miller in the second inning and pitched the rest of the way.
SCSU didn't fare much better in game two, dropping the nightcap 7-3.
Mike Hoelscher went the distance, allowing 13 hits and seven runs (only two were earned). Five hits were all the Huskies could amass against Bisons starter Terry Tchida. Tchida pitched a complete game, allowing one earned run and striking out four. Olson, who was named NCC Player of the Week for the second time this season last Wednesday, had another solid offensive game. Olson went three-for-four and scored three runs. Hoelscher fared better against the rest of the lineup than did Miller and Nelson.
Sunday was more of the same. However, the Huskies did manage to push game one into extra innings when pinch hitter Parnell O'Connor's grand slam in the bottom of the seventh gave the team new life.
But once again, the Bison hitters demonstrated their resolve in the eighth when three straight hits loaded the bases and Piepkorn again came up big, delivering a two-run single, winning the game for NDSU 8-6.
Game two Sunday was a little more ugly from an SCSU perspective as the Bison bats killed them once again. But not without a fight.
Scott Lochner was the hero for the Bison in the 20-12 win in game two, sending two deep, collecting a double and driving in eight as the Bison jumped ahead of the Huskies 14-2 to lead in the early innings.
The Huskies rallied back, but the deficit proved to be too great. Blayne Penney took the loss, dropping to 0-5.
When the calendar still reads April and the Husky Baseball squad has already dropped 30 games, it becomes painfully apparent that the postseason doesn't hold much promise for this team. The team has won just twice since April 1. It may take an optimist to look past so many devastating losses and see bright spots, however mundane and minute they can be. But for the optimist, they're there.
But in reality, it's not that the Huskies are losing games. They're simply getting outplayed in nearly every category on an everyday basis. Take batting average as one example. SCSU's weak .269 average is countered by an opponent's average of .353. Run production has been bankrupt as the opposition has outscored the team 314-154 going into Sunday's games.
Hitting for power has also been a sore spot. For every pitch Husky batters take deep, the opposition hits three. That could be a more meaningful stat if the Huskies were able to get on base as they are again outshined in OBP, .345 to .428.
But again, to focus on the bright spots, let's look at Husky hitters who are pulling their weight as three regulars are batting over .300. Brock Mutcheson leads the team in average at .342 and Nate Swan is hitting .312. Perhaps the brightest spot in this dreary season has been Joe Durham. Batting .339, Durham is close behind Mutcheson, but has the numbers everywhere else. Of his team-leading 40 hits, 10 are doubles and four are long balls. He's also recorded a solid 26 RBIs and a .525 slugging percentage.
Suffering under such a disappointing season, one has to look for the bright spots, wherever they might be.
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