Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CLERMONT, Fla. – Minot State University won in different styles on Friday.

But the bottom line is the Beavers continue to win.

MISU held on to top Bentley University 4-3 in the first game and ran away from Alderson-Broaddus College in game 2 to push its winning streak to 13 games in NCAA Division II softball at the National Training Center Tournament.

“We don't know what's going to happen after we get done here. It's storming at home and we're not sure we are going to get some of our games in. I think this team feels it could be a little special and could make a little noise nationally and it's possible we won't get some games in. The kids are starting to worry a little,” said MISU head coach Bill Triplett said. “But we talked to them about taking one game at a time and then letting the athletic directors figure the next couple weeks out.

“We need to make sure we are focused on those next two games.”

The Beavers (16-1 overall, 0-0 NSIC) have not lost since a 5-3 setback to Western New Mexico University in the fourth game at the Montana State-Billings Desert Stinger in Las Vegas, Nev., Feb. 10. MISU has won all eight games in Florida and has outscored its opponents 49-7 in the process.

“Yeah, if you had asked before the season if we would be able to start (18-1 if the Beavers win two tomorrow), I don't think I would have believed you,” Triplett said. “Now, we need to make sure we take care of business tomorrow.”

The win in game 1 was referred to by Triplett as a “situational win.” The Beavers led 4-2 late in the game and allowed a run to score to throw an advancing runner out and end the inning. It was something MISU talked about and practiced before the tournament.

“They got the run but we got out of the inning,” he said. “We worked on that. We figure they can have the run, but we cut off a big three or four run inning and I'll take a one-run lead into the last inning with our pitching.”

The Beavers trio of Mandy Greenberg (Sr., P, Winnipeg, Manitoba), Tiffany Friesen (Sr., P/3B, Morden, Manitoba) and Jen Dixon (Jr., OF/P, Brandon, Manitoba) have been stingy throughout the season. MISU is allowing just 18 total runs and have a combined 0.86 ERA. Dixon went 5 2/3 innings for the win, upping her record to 2-0 and Friesen worked the final 1 1/3 for her third save.

Friesen was also key at the plate as she drove in two runs with an RBI double in the third, helping the Beavers jump out to a 4-0 lead.  Katie Backes (Jr., UTL, Minot, N.D.) and Brittany Thorson (Fr., P/SS, El Paso, Texas) each had one RBI and Dixon finished with two hits to pace Minot State.

Game 2 was basically over by the time Taylor Studler (So., 1B, Grosse Isle, Manitoba) connected for her first home run of the season in the top of the second inning. It game Minot State a 2-0 lead while Greenberg already had four strikeouts with a rare four-K first inning due to a passed ball.

“We just have so much confidence when Mandy is pitching,” Triplett said. “You could see it when Studler hit the home run. We basically played add-on from there.”

Minot State finished with 10 hits and seven runs after a five-run fourth inning and Greenberg pitched a complete game, three-hitter – the second three-hitter the Beavers tossed on the day.
Backes, Ali Cygan (So., SS, Bozeman, Mont.) and Corinne Gautron (Sr., C, Winnipeg, Manitoba) all finished with two hits and an RBI each and Dixon added two more RBIs in the win.

Minot State will look to stay perfect in Florida with a noon tilt with New York Institute of Technology and a 2 p.m. game against the University of Wisconsin-Stout.