Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BISMARCK, N.D. – While Minot State University softball didn't bring warm weather north with it, MISU certainly brought its hot bats.

The Beavers belted eight home runs and 23 total runs in their Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference debut, knocking off rival University of Mary 11-2 (6) and 12-2 (5) Thursday at the Bismarck Community Bowl.

Minot State's power duo of Jen Dixon (Jr., OF/P, Brandon, Manitoba) and Tiffany Friesen (Sr., P/3B, Morden, Manitoba) each took turns have a multi-HR game and finished with three homers each.

“We definitely have some pop at the top of our lineup,” said MISU head coach Bill Triplett. “Jen is leading the nation in hitting and just getting every piece of the ball nearly every time up. With how are pitching staff has been, we haven't needed many runs, but today it was the hitters making it easy for the pitchers. These are two big wins for our program.”

In game 1, the Beavers (20-1 overall, 2-0 NSIC) grabbed an early lead, scoring six in the second inning. Friesen swatted a two-run home run to cap the six-run inning. Dixon put it out of reach with a two-run shot in the fourth and a solo HR in the sixth.

Not to be outdone on the day, Stacy Fournier (Jr., 3B, Langley, British Columbia) smacked a two-run homer in the sixth as well.

It was plenty for starter Mandy Greenberg (Sr., P, Winnipeg, Manitoba) as she gave up just a pair of runs in the fourth on her way to her 10th win of the season. She finished with eight strikeouts and one walk along with two hits in five innings.

Dixon got right back at it in game 2, opening up a 2-0 lead for the Beavers with a two-run homer in the top of the first. She finished with six hits in eight at bats and drove in six runs in the two games.

“We have joked about what Dixon needs to do to get that (NSIC) Player of the Week honor and she certainly had a great start towards earning her first award,” Triplett said. “When Tiff and Jen and Stacy and Ali (Ali Cygan, So., SS, Bozeman, Mont.) are swinging it like they did today, I don't know who you would pitch around.”

Cygan got into the homer act with a solo shot in the fourth and Friesen hit her first of two, knocking in two with a home run also in the fourth to give MISU a 7-0 lead.

Friesen's four RBI game helped herself on the mound as she pitched four strong innings for her eighth win of the season. She gave up just two hits and a run, while striking out five.
Minot State is back in Bismarck for a Friday-Saturday NSIC double header weekend. The Beavers take on the University of Sioux Falls Friday at 3/5 p.m., and Southwest Minnesota State Saturday at 3/5 p.m., at the U-Mary softball field.