GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE

RAPID CITY, S.D. - Minot State University baseball couldn't get it done late in both of its conference opening games.
The Beavers bull pen gave up 11 runs combined in the final two innings of each game to lose twice to Dickinson State Friday in Dakota Athletic Conference play in Rapid City, S.D.
"We just didn't get it done late in the games," said MSU head coach Brock Weppler. "It certainly wasn't the start we were looking for. We hit the ball all right, but at times we were pressing, trying to do too much at the plate. Hopefully we can learn from this and bounce back."
The Blue Hawks won game 1 13-9 and polished off the sweep with a 9-3 in game 2. The two teams play a double header in Rapid City again Saturday starting at Noon (MT). The games were originally scheduled for Minot, but were moved due to poor field conditions.
In game 1, MSU took a 3-2 lead into the top of the fourth, but gave up five runs in the inning. The Beavers didn't help themselves on the defensive end, giving up three errors in the game. MSU booted a critical ball that opened the flood gates in the fourth.
“We gave up six unearned runs on the day,” Weppler said. “The defense wasn't up to snuff. We have to shore up the defense. If we don't make the errors, the first game could have been a different story.”
MSU (0-2 DAC, 7-10 overall) battled back with a run in the fourth, three in the sixth and two in the seventh, but gave up four in the sixth and two in the seventh.
Kory Houston (Sr., CF, Minot, N.D.) and Connor Moughtin (Fr., C, Victoria, British Columbia) both hit home runs. Houston had a great day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with the home run, two runs batted in and had two stolen bases. Jordan Gilmour (So., OF, Gatineau, Quebec) went 2-for-4, while Ryne Hornecker (Jr., SS, Minot, N.D.) had a hit and two RBIs.
Dickinson's Roberto Gonzalez worked 5 1/3 innings for the Blue Hawks (2-0, 10-7) to earn the win, while MSU's Paul Thompson (Jr., P, Pierson, Manitoba) suffered the loss.
In game 2, Dickinson's Ryan Crossingham gave up just three hits and four runs in seven innings.
“(Crossingham) really worked fast and kind of got in our heads,” said Weppler. “We have to be able slow the game down. We found a way to scratch a couple hits and runs together, but we can't let things like that get to us.”
Anthony Friesen (So., P, Somerset, Manitoba) gave up 12 hits, but left the game in the eighth down just 4-3.
“He pitched well enough to win,” Weppler said. “It was a tough-luck loss for him because he didn't pitch too bad. We didn't have a good outing from the pen.”
Hornecker extended his hit streak to 14 games, going 2-for-4, but was the only player with multiple hits. Hornecker has at least one hit in 16 of 17 games.
“We really started pressing in the second game. We had guys who were trying to do too much at the plate,” Weppler said. “We found out in Arizona that we can't do that. We have to trust the next guy to do the job.”

- GO BEAVERS -