Kenosha, Wis. – After 661 days away, Parkside finally returned to Historic Simmons Field on Wednesday, splitting a doubleheader against Bemidji State. The Rangers fell just short in a 3-1 defeat in game one but bounced back in game two with a commanding 9-5 victory, fueled by a late-game offensive surge.
GAME ONE
Despite a strong effort on the mound from Noah Gerritson, the Parkside Rangers fell in a hard-fought 3-1 battle against Bemidji State on a chilly afternoon at Simmons Field.
Gerritson was electric for six-plus innings, racking up nine strikeouts and allowing just three hits. Gerritson took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and lasted 6.1 innings.The Rangers' offense showed promise, outhitting the Beavers 7-4, but struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Parkside struck first in the second inning after Owen Brock roped a leadoff double and later scored on a groundout by Carter Storti. The Rangers continued to threaten, with John St. Clair and Jackson Lindquist each swiping a bag, but Bemidji State's pitching duo of Derek Hoffman and Cole Smith kept Parkside in check, stranding five runners on base.
The Beavers tied the game in the sixth with an RBI double from Noah Drusch before Lubchuk's two-run blast in the seventh put them ahead for good. The loss snaps Parkside's four game win streak and handed them their first loss of the season.
GAME TWO
Bemidji State wasted no time getting on the board, as Noah Drusch launched a solo home run in the top of the first to give the Beavers an early 1-0 lead. Parkside quickly responded in the bottom half when Jackson Lindquist lifted a sacrifice fly to bring in the tying run.
The Beavers took advantage of timely hitting in the third, plating three runs to take a 4-1 lead. Hunter Hyden and Zach Evenson recorded back-to-back doubles to bring in a pair of runs, and a wild pitch allowed another to score.
However, Parkside answered in the bottom of the inning, rallying to chip away at the deficit. Lindquist and St. Clair reached base, and a two-run single from Angel Rades cut the deficit to 4-3.
Bemidji State tacked on an insurance run in the fifth when Chris Lubchuk doubled home a run following a Parkside fielding error, extending the lead to 5-3.
The momentum shifted in the seventh inning as Parkside broke through with a five-run rally. The inning started with Dylan Sayles, who ignited the rally by ripping a leadoff double down the left-field line. Lindquist followed up with a clutch RBI double to left, bringing Sayles home and cutting the deficit to 5-4. With the pressure mounting on Bemidji State, Parkside kept pushing. St. Clair put the ball in play, reaching on a throwing error by the third baseman. The errant throw allowed Lindquist to come around and score, tying the game at 5-5.
The Rangers weren't done yet. Owen Brock delivered in a big way, lining a single to center that brought home St. Clair, giving Parkside its first lead of the game at 6-5. And later in the inning, Jake Petasek walked with the bases loaded, pushing across another run to make it 7-5. Moments later, Peter Fusek, reached on a fielder's choice that plated Rades.
Parkside added one more in the eighth and William Hyland provided Parkside with a spark, dealing two scoreless innings of relief. Maguire Delagrave recorded the final three outs, notching a pair of strikeouts in the effort.
NEXT
Parkside takes one day off and returns to action this weekend in Missouri. They are slated to play in two more double headers on Friday and Saturday against Southwest Baptist University. For coverage of the events, visit ParksideRangers.com/coverage.
