Box Score Game 1
Box Score Game 2

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Minot State University softball was just a couple of play away from a s weep to open its 2012 season.

The Beavers lost 4-2 against Notre Dame de Namur (Calif.) in eight innings before out-slugging Chadron State College 11-9 in the nightcap at the Montana State-Billings Desert Stinger in Las Vegas.

The Beavers (1-1 overall) forced extra innings against ND de Namur with a run in the top of the seventh. Tiffany Friesen (Jr., P/3B, Morden, Manitoba) singled home Jen Dixon (So., P/OF, Brandon, Manitoba) in a crazy inning that saw the Beavers knock out five hits but score just one run.

But the Beavers gave up two in the bottom of the eighth as Robyn Araujo hit a two-run home run to end the game.

MSU had chances of getting a potential winning run across, but had runner thrown out at home in the seventh and eighth innings.

Katie Backes (So., OF, Minot, N.D.) finished with two hits for the Beavers. Mandy Greenberg (Jr., P, Winnipeg, Manitoba) suffered the loss despite giving up just six hits and striking out 12 over seven innings.

MSU needed late-inning heroics to get the win over Chadron State, scoring seven runs in the top of the seventh after trailing 7-3 after three innings.

Melissa Bell (Fr., C, Belgrade, Mont.) and Stacy Fournier (So., SS, Langley, British Columbia) each drove in two runs in the inning with hits. The Beavers scored seven runs on four hits and one CSC error in the inning.

Friesen earned the win on the mound in relief, pitching five innings, giving up four runs and eight hits, while striking out four. Bell had the hot bat as she went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and three runs scored. Dixon also scored three times and Fournier and Maribel Cassillas (Jr., OF, Murrieta, Calif.) both drove in two.

MSU plays twice on Saturday, taking on Simon Fraser (British Columbia) and New Mexico Highlands.