Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MINOT, N.D. – It was one bad inning Friday afternoon that cost the Minot State baseball team a potential 2-0 start in the four-game series against conference rival University of Mary.

In the fourth inning of game two, MISU (13-23 overall 5-17 NSIC) allowed five runs on just two hits, allowing the Marauders (17-20-1 overall 8-14 NSIC) to take an 8-4 win. The Beavers won game one by a score of 7-5 at Jack Hoeven Ballpark.

“They scored numerous runs off walks or errors in that inning,” said Beaver head coach Brock Weppler. “If we come out and attack the zone, play our type of baseball, that's not going to happen. That was the difference in the game. We can't have our pitchers have lapses like that.”

Jesse Goertzen (Fr., P, Steinbach, Manitoba) looked sharp through the first three innings but could not find the zone in the fourth as he walked the bases loaded. Zane Sawyer (Jr., P, Virden, Manitoba) replaced Goertzen but only retired one batter before Austin Zorn (So., P, Bismarck, N.D.) finished the inning for MISU.

Zorn stayed in and finished the game in a solid five and two-thirds innings of relief performance. He gave up just five hits while striking out two Marauder hitters.

Offensively for the Beavers, Jordan Gilmour (Sr., OF, Gatineau, Quebec) led the attack in game two with three hits and three runs scored from the leadoff position.

Moving back to game one, it was a back and forth ball game.

Minot State took a 3-0 lead in the first inning capped by a two-run home run off the bat of Connor Moughtin (Jr., C, Victoria, British Columbia). The Marauders then climbed back in the game scoring one in the second inning and three in the third inning started by Kyal Williams' two-run homerun.

But just as quickly as it came for U-Mary, the lead left as Gilmour knocked a two-RBI single to left field with the bases loaded.

Freshman starting pitcher Austin Bernston (Fr., P, Minot, N.D.) picked up his second collegiate win with a six inning, six strikeout performance. Zorn also picked up his first career save in the win.

“It was a game of momentum,” said Weppler. “We hung with it both offensively and defensively and I thought Bernie (Bernston) was very good. He settled himself in and did a nice job for us.”

Alex Fornshell (Jr., SS, Minot, N.D.) and Mitch Olson (Sr., 1B, Deloraine, Manitoba) each had two base hits in the win, but yet again Gilmour led the offensive charge for MISU with three hits, two RBI, and one run scored. Gilmour also had two stolen bases on the day.

“It was a typical Jordan Gilmour performance today,” Weppler stated with a grin. “We've seen it here for four years now-when he is going good there are a lot of weapons he can utilize. He can bunt it, pull it, or slap it the other way. When he got on base today he used his speed well and swiped a few bags and that's great to have someone like that at the top of your lineup.”

Minot State will play in their final two games of the season, as another twin bill is scheduled with the University of Mary Saturday afternoon at Jack Hoeven Ballpark.