Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Minot State University baseball team has been waiting all year to get on the field and play their first games as members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

The day finally came and the Beavers capitalized on their opportunity, winning their first two games of the season over University of Minnesota Duluth, 8-6 and 3-0, Thursday night in the Metrodome.

“It was great to see our guys out on the field,” said sixth year head coach Brock Weppler. “I was interested to see how we would react in our first games and we went out there and competed hard and worked our butts off. We haven't seen live pitching and we have been fielding ground balls off the MSU Dome floor, so I am sure the guys liked being in an actual game.”

In game one of the night, Cole Stober (Sr., P, Hays, Alberta) took to the mound for Minot State, pitching four innings allowing seven hits and three runs, none of which were earned.
The game was locked, 3-3 heading into the top of the sixth inning when Connor Moughtin (Jr., C, Victoria, British Columbia) led off the inning with a single to left-center field. After a Andrew Roach (So., P/OF, Gilbert, Ariz.) single and a Tyler Stevenson (Jr., OF, Cheyenne, Wyo.) walk, the bases were loaded.

Alex Fornshell (Jr., IF, Minot, N.D.) and Jordan Gilmour (Sr., OF, Gatineau, Quebec) hit back-to-back singles to bring MISU to a 6-3 lead. Mike Turcotte (Sr., CF, Victoria, British Columbia) added two more for the Beavers with a two-out single, scoring Fornshell and Gilmour.

Minot State allowed three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but hung on for the 8-6 win. Stober picked up his first win of the season.

In game two, Jesse Goertzen (Fr., P, Steinbach, Manitoba) made his collegiate debut and it was a great one. Goertzen pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out seven on his way to his first career win.

“Jesse has come a long way in the last five months,” said Weppler. “His ball was really running and jumping all over today and that led to his success. He hit a few guys early on but he settled down nicely and pitched a good ball game.”

The Beavers only collected five hits in game two, but they came at opportune moments. Turcotte hit a first inning triple, scoring Gilmour after a leadoff walk. Mitch Olson (Sr., 3B, Deloraine, Manitoba) then hit a well-timed single scoring Turcotte from third.

MISU added one more in the sixth when Roach tripled home a run, sealing the 3-0 win for Minot State.

“In the past we have always been classified as a 'young' team. This year is different,” said Weppler. “We have guys that have been there and done that; they have confidence and that makes a world of difference. All the pieces are coming together nicely. There is obviously a long way to go but I like the way we started our season.”

The Beavers will have another double-header Friday afternoon as they face Wayne State College in two non-conference games. First pitch in game one is set for 3:30 p.m.