Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LAS VEGAS, Nev. –  Minot State University used two timely 3-run home runs to help the Beavers to a pair of one-run wins to open the first day of the 2014 Montana State-Billings Desert Stinger played at Majestic Park.

The Beavers got a 3-run shot from Jen Dixon (Sr., OF/P, Brandon, Manitoba) in game 1 in a 4-3 win over Azusa Pacific (Calif.) and then used a 3-run home run by freshman Alyssa Cornejo (P/28, Riverside, Calif.) to help the Beavers earn a 5-4 win over Western Oregon University in extra innings.

The wins boosts the Beavers overall record at the Desert Stinger to 9-8 over the past five seasons and have a three game winning streak overall at the tournament. The Beavers improved to a solid 6-1 in their past two Desert Stingers.

Minot State 4, Azusa Pacific 3
Dixon's bomb proved to be the big blow, but the Beavers needed to manufacture a run for the win as well. After Azusa Pacific pulled to within 3-2, Minot States Ali Cygan (Jr., SS, Bozeman, Mont.) signed home Jordan Grant (Fr., CF, Adelnato, Calif.) to give the Beavers a two-run cushion.

That cushion came in handy as AP's Jessica Melcher hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to get the Cougars to within one.

But Cornejo locked down her first collegiate save with a perfect seventh inning to end any comeback attempts.

Mindy Lorimor (Jr., P, Thurman, Iowa) was also sharp for Minot State in her debut as the transfer from South Dakota State pitched six innings, giving up six hits, three runs with just one earned and struck out a batter.

Dixon finished with two hits, three RBIs and a run scored. Cygan, battling cleanup behind Dixon, went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Grant scored two runs from her leadoff position with a hit and a walk.

Madison Hernandez finished with two hits for Azusa Pacific in the loss, while Carly Xepoleas pitched four innings for three-hit ball in relief.

Minot State 5, Western Oregon 4 (8)
It was the same formula for Minot State in game 2 as they got the big blast from Cornejo and then timely late-game hitting.

This time, the hitting came in an extra frame as the Beavers rallied from a one-run deficit in the eighth. The game was played with the international tiebreaker rule where a runner is placed at second with nobody out in each extra inning.

After WOU plated Melanie Pfeiffer in the top half of the eighth for the one run lead, Minot State pulled even as runner Jana Britz (Sr., OF, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), who was recently added to the roster as a player-coach, scored to tie the game on an RBI double from Rachel Burdette (Fr., P/UTL, Temecula, Calif.). Burdette scored three batters later as WUO's Kelli Demianew intentionally walked Dixon and Cygan to load the bases with one out. Katie Backes (Sr., UTL, Minot, N.D.) came up with a clutch hit to score Burdette and give the Beavers a first-day sweep.

Demianew was solid for WUO, allowing seven hits and five runs in 7 1/3 innings pitched. Kelsie Gardner knocked in two and hammered a home run, while a speedy Pfeiffer and Amanda Evola collected two hits apiece for Western Oregon.

Backes was 3 for 4 at the place with the one RBI and Cygan finished with her second straight multi-hit game with two. Lorimor worked three innings in relief of Dixon to earn the win. She allowed just two hits and an unearned run. Dixon was good in her first outing of the year, getting a no decision while pitching five innings and allowing five hits and three runs while striking out five.

The Beavers will look to extend their winning streak with two more games Saturday, taking on University of Hawaii at Hilo at 11:30 a.m. (PT) and Central Washington at 7 p.m. (PT).