TUCSON, Ariz. – Minot State University softball had its nine-game winning streak snapped in a 6-3 loss to Missouri Valley College Wednesday at the Tucson Invitational.

The Beavers had won all nine games in Tucson and were winners of 10 of their past 12 games. The loss to MVC was MSU's first loss to an NAIA program all season.

MSU lost the second game of the day as well, falling 5-1 to the University of British Columbia.

“The streak kind of ran out on us, but we will get back to another one Friday,” said MSU head coach Bill Triplett.

The Beavers got out to a 1-0 lead on MVC and held that until the third inning when starting pitcher Mandy Greenberg (So., Winnipeg, Manitoba) gave up three runs. Greenberg went five innings, giving up just five hits, but was tagged for all six runs. She walked two and struck out eight.

MSU out-hit MVC 9-5, but left six runners on while Missouri Valley stranded just two. MVC also hit three home runs and had a double in the game. MSU finished with three extra base hits as Jen Dixon (Fr., OF/P, Brandon, Manitoba), Leah Matthewson (So., 1B/OF, Regina, Saskatchewan) and Deanna Mitchell (Jr., OF/1B, Portage, Manitoba) all finished with doubles.

Mitchell, who leads the Beavers with a .478 average and has a team-leading 16 runs batted in, picked up two hits in the game and added two RBIs as well. Tiffany Friesen (So., 1B/DP, Morden, Manitoba) went 2-for-2 in the game.

In the second game, MSU also had a 1-0 lead, but British Columbia added a run in the second and then four in the fifth. The Beavers split up the pitching duties as Friesen went three innings, Greenberg two and Dixon two. Greenberg was saddled with the loss, giving four runs. Dixon pitched two scoreless innings in both games to lower her earned run average to just .95.

“Jen pitched in both games,” Triplett said. “So far during this trip, she is pitching awfully well.”

The Beavers managed just four hits in the contest. Mitchell went 1-for-3 and picked up the Beavers only RBI.

MSU is off Thursday from varsity competition but plays twice on Friday to end its trip to Arizona.