Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WILLISTON, N.D. – Minot State University baseball was well on its way to a sweep of a pair of games, but couldn't finish Williston State College off.

The Beavers cruised to a 7-1 win behind a solid start by freshman Austin Zorn (P, Bismarck, N.D.) in Game 1, but gave up two runs in the bottom of the seventh to fall 6-5 in game 2 in a pair of nonconference NCAA Division II games Monday.

“We shot ourselves in the foot a little in game 2 with a couple uncharacteristic errors. We haven't done that all year,” said MSU head coach Brock Weppler. “It was tough to lose that game, dropping another one-run game late in a game where we thought we should get the win. Overall, I thought we played pretty well.”

Zorn limited the Tetons to just five hits in game 1 and continued to have a solid start to his Beavers' career.

“Austin threw well. He pounded the zone and challenged the hitters,” Weppler said. “He didn't walk anybody and with the wood bats that's key. It was a good outing.”

MSU finished with 10 hits and scored five runs in the top of the fifth to blow the game open. Mike Turcotte (Jr., OF, Victoria, British Columbia), Mitch Olson (Jr., 1B, Deloraine, Manitoba) and Alex Fornshell (So., INF, Minot, N.D.) all finished with two hits for the Beavers.

“We had quality at bats all day,” said Weppler. “I think guys have been stressing a little lately and maybe because of the wood bats, we just played our game a little more.”

MSU was limited to just five hits in game 2, but was poised to take the sweep, leading 5-4 heading into the seventh. But the Tetons scratched together two runs to earn the split.

“I don't think they squared up a ball in the inning. They had a chopper and then a bunt that fell in between a couple guys,” Weppler said. “We didn't make the plays.”
Ben Sansaver (Jr., INF, Kalispell, Mont.) suffered the loss in relief of Zane Sawyer (Fr., P, Virden, Manitoba), who gave up four runs, but was hurt by the defensive errors.

Olson again swung a solid bat for the Beavers as he was 2 for 3 with a home run.

Minot State moves on for a single 9-inning game Tuesday at NCAA Division I North Dakota State starting at 6 p.m. at Newman Outdoor Stadium.