Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 TUCSON, Ariz. – Some timely hitting and a solid pitching performance led Minot State baseball to two wins at the Tucson Invitational Games.

The Beavers (5-2 overall 0-0 NSIC) beat Southwest Minnesota State twice in non-conference play in the double-header, beating the Mustangs 6-4, 3-1 on Sunday afternoon at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium.

In the first game, both teams struggled early on. The Mustangs and Beavers each committed errors and struggled on the mound

“The first inning was ugly both ways,” said Beaver head coach Brock Weppler. “Stober (Cole Stober, Sr., P, Hays, Alberta) kind of struggled with control a bit and wasn't working ahead like he usually does.”

Stober was able to recover from a poor start, and pitch a solid four innings giving up just three hits and three earned runs. The bullpen then took over and helped propel MISU to victory. Doug Rolfson (Fr., P, Watford City, N.D.) picked up his first collegiate win while Trey Jacobsen (So., P, Alexander, N.D.) picked up the save by pitching the last two innings while only surrendering one hit.

 “Stober kept us in the ball game and gave us a chance,” said Weppler. “I thought the bullpen was good. Rolfson came in during a pressure situation for his first collegiate appearance and Jacobsen did an excellent job picking up the save.”

Minot State scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Brian Vine (Sr., C, Vida, Mont.) doubled, scoring a runner from second base. Vine then scored when fellow senior Jordan Gilmour (Sr., OF, Gatineau, Quebec) singled to right-center field.

“Hitting wise, we were a little complacent yesterday and we wanted to change that,” Weppler said. “Our goal is to come out and win every single inning and we played that way today. The guys grinded it out on both sides today and that's what we like to think our team is all about. That was the big difference from yesterday to today.”

In game two, Jesse Goertzen (Fr., P, Steinbach, Manitoba) pitched a complete game, striking out three SMSU batters on his way to his second victory of the season. Goertzen used the movement on his fastball to stay effect and keep Mustang batters off-balance throughout the game.

“The biggest thing he did all day was pound the zone and get ahead of hitters,” Weppler said of Goertzen. “He came out and got the first guy out in almost every inning. He didn't have his best stuff today but he did enough to get by and get us a win.”

Mitch Olson (Sr., 1B/3B, Deloraine, Manitoba) and Connor Moughtin (Jr., C, Victoria, British Columbia) led MISU with two hits each in the win. Olson came up clutch in the sixth inning, driving home teammate Andrew Roach (So., OF, Gilbert, Ariz.) with a double.

Colton Gatherum (Jr. 2B, Murray, Utah) also had a huge hit in the win. In the fifth inning, Gatherum tripled over the right fielder's head and then scored on an SMSU throwing error, brining him all 360 feet around the bases.

“I thought approaches at the plate were much better today,” said Weppler.”The last three weeks we have worked on that, and today it happened. We executed in clutch situations. Their pitcher, Alverez, did a nice job attacking the zone, but we stuck with it and came up with some big hits to win that ball game.”

Minot State has tomorrow off and they will be back in action Tuesday as they take on SMSU for a third straight time. Later that day, they will face Lubbock Christian University.