Box Score HAYS, Kan. – Minot State University's first run in the Central Regional 1 tournament wasn't a highlight reel run.

But it was a historic one.

Jen Dixon's (Jr., OF/P, Brandon, Manitoba) fifth inning sacrifice fly scoring Maribel Casillas (Sr., OF, Murrieta, Calif.) was the first ever run scored by MISU in regional play propelled the Beavers to their first ever NCAA tournament win.

MISU's Mandy Greenberg (Sr., P, Winnipeg, Manitoba) twirled a four hitter to make Dixon's 50th RBI stand as Minot State eliminated Emporia State 1-0 in the first loser out game at the Central Regional at Fort Hays State's Tiger Stadium.

“We haven't hit the ball overly well in the tournament so far, but we strung a couple hits together and Jen came through,” said MISU head coach Bill Triplett. “I am really proud of how we came back after a tough loss once again. We haven't lost many games in a row this whole year and they came ready to play.”

The Beavers (41-10 overall) advance to another loser out game today at 6 p.m. against host and No. 1 seed Fort Hays State, who was upset in the winner's bracket game by Central Oklahoma. Emporia State ends its season at 38-20.

Greenberg was steady over seven innings, pitching out of an early jam after giving up two singles to start the game. After the first inning, she gave up just a single in the fourth and a double in the sixth. She improved to 25-5 overall with the win and lowered her ERA to just 1.12.

“Mandy has been so important for this program during her career and she has been just so steady for us this year. This was vintage Mandy in big games, she had great stuff and gave us a chance to win,” Triplett said.

She was helped by a couple of solid plays in the field as both Ali Cygan (So., SS, Bozeman, Mont.) and Tiffany Friesen (Sr., 3B/P, Morden, Manitoba) made great catches behind third and first base respectively. Casillas also doubled off a runner on a fly ball to center, throwing the would-be runner out at third.

The Beavers were limited to just three hits overall, getting two from Melissa Bell (So., C, Belgrade, Mont.) and one from Cygan. The two were catalysts in the sixth as both singled after Casillas walked with one out. Dixon drove a 1-1 pitch to left center and Casillas scored without a throw.

Minot State improved to 4-1 in this postseason in elimination games, losing in the first championship game of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament last week after winning three straight in the loser's bracket.