(Box Score Game 1)
(Box Score Game 2)

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Minot State University softball wants to make the most of its outings against future Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams.

The Beavers did that Thursday in a nonconference double header.

Minot State jumped all over St. Cloud State in game 1, winning 7-1 before falling 2-0 in NCAA Division II softball.

“The NSIC games are a good measuring stick for us for next year,” said MSU head coach Bill Triplett. “We basically beat them 8-3 on the day, so we are a little disappointed in how that second game finished, but we feel we are right there in competing with these teams.”

MSU got a great outing from junior pitcher Mandy Greenberg (Winnipeg, Manitoba) in the first game, going six innings without giving up an earned run. Melissa Bell (Fr., C, Belgrade, Mont.) had the big blow at the plate, hammering her second home run on the season. Kyla Thiesen (Sr., 2B, Brandon, Manitoba), Jen Dixon (So., OF/P, Brandon, Manitoba), Deanna Mitchell (Sr., 1B, Portage, Manitoba) and Corinne Gautron (Jr., C, Winnipeg, Manitoba) all finished with two hits.

“We really hit the ball well. We got runners on and got them in,” Triplett said. “We dominated the game the whole way, no question.”

MSU ran into a solid pitcher in game 2 as St. Cloud State's Kelly Frank shut the Beavers down offensively.

“She threw hard, but we had our chances and didn't get the big hit,” said Triplett.

Tiffany Friesen (Jr., P/3B, Morden, Manitoba) threw a solid game allowing just five hits, but suffered the loss. Dixon and Bell both had singles in the game.
MSU takes on two future NSIC foes next in nonconference as the Beavers travel to Upper Iowa April 1 and Northern State April 2.