BISMARCK, N.D. – Minot State University stepped out of current conference play and took a glimpse into the conference of the future.

The Beavers traveled to the University of Mary Tuesday in nonconference softball, facing future Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rival and possible travel partner.

In the end, MSU couldn't overcome a key error and two wild pitches, dropping a tight 5-3 contest in game 1 before having game 2 called due to weather at Marauder Field.

“I don't think we played our best game, but we battled,” said MSU head coach Bill Triplett. “We are a little short of pitching right now and the mistakes we made were freshman mistakes.”

MSU trailed game 2 12-2 after four innings, but the game was called due to rain.

In game 1, the Beavers (24-8 overall) got a solid pitching performance by freshman Jen Dixon (Brandon, Manitoba), who actually pitched seven total innings between the two games. She went the distance in game 1, giving up six hits and five runs – four earned – and had four strikeouts.

Dixon was ultimately undone by a throwing error that plated a run in the first inning and a wild pitch that scored a run in the third. Mary scores all five runs over the first three innings as Dixon settled in after the third.

“She pitched pretty well, but we made some mistakes,” Triplett said. “She's a sinkerball pitcher and we had some trouble handling her at times with a couple wild pitches or passed balls, whatever you want to call them.”

MSU battled back with a pair of solo home runs, one by Deanna Mitchell (Jr., 1B, Portage, Manitoba) and one by Melissa Elliott (Sr., OF, Escondido, Calif.), and a sacrifice fly by Brittany Bartel (So., 3B, Sinclair, Manitoba).

“We left a bunch of runners. We did a good job of putting ourselves in a good position, but couldn't get that one big hit,” said Triplett. “We certainly could have won the game.”

MSU will travel to Mayville State Wednesday for a pair of Dakota Athletic Conference games – the final scheduled DAC games of the year. The Beavers are hoping to pick up at least one more double header to make up for games lost earlier in the season, but nothing has been finalized.