Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University's pitching staff picked up right where it left off in the desert.

The Beavers, coming off a MSU-Billings Desert Stinger tournament-tying nine runs given up in five games, pitched a pair of shutouts in MISU's first two games at the St. Cloud State Kelly Laas Husky Dome Invitational.

Minot State's Mandy Greenberg (Sr., P, Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Tiffany Friesen (Sr., P/3B, Morden, Manitoba) gave up just five hits combined as MISU defeated Bemidji State 8-0 (5) and Valley City State 3-0 in NCAA Division II softball Saturday.

Greenberg hasn't given up a run yet this season, pitching a total of 15 innings on the year. She ran her record to 3-0 overall with five innings pitched in game 1 against Bemidji State. Greenberg struck out 10 BSU batters and walked just one.

“Mandy threw very well in game 1,” said MISU head coach Bill Triplett. “And, we gave here great run support. We played two clean games and came away with wins.”

She allowed just one BSU batter to advance past second base as Crystal Bowen singled up the middle to lead off the seventh and advanced to third. Greenberg, however, struck out the side in the fourth to end any threat.

Minot State (6-1 overall) blew open the game with a six-run second inning, getting a grand slam by Stacy Fournier (Jr., 3B, Langley, British Columbia. Jen Dixon (Jr., OF/P, Brandon, Manitoba) continued to stay red hot at the plate with an RBI single one batter before Fournier's blast.

Fournier and Friesen each finished with two hits, while Ali Cygan (So., SS, Bozeman, Mont.) scored two runs.

MISU hit two home run in the game and three so far in the tournament as Friesen belted a solo shot in the fifth to end the game with the eight-run lead.

She also helped herself out in game 2 against Valley City State, smacking a solo home run in the fourth inning to give her team a 2-0 lead.

“Tiffany ended the first game with a monster shot that went way, way out,” Triplett said. “She also helped her own cause another home run and threw a great game in game 2. She had a great day.”

It was all the run support she needed against the former Dakota Athletic Conference rival as she allowed just two singles –back-to-back Hilary Kulczewski and Liz Hall-Sewell in the second – but, like Greenberg, got out of the only jam she faced.

Minot State only mustered six hits against the Vikings. Dixon added two singles to her day and scored the third run on a wild pitch. Taylor Studler (So., 1B, Grosse Isle, Manitoba) plated Katie Backes (Jr., UTL, Minot, N.D.) with a single in the top of the second.
 
– GO BEAVERS –