Box Score TUCSON, Ariz.– Competition was high Wednesday afternoon at the Kino Sports Complex, as Minot State battled Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe St. Cloud State in non-conference action.

Pitching was solid on both sides, but execution in the final innings was the deciding factor as SCSU (9-3 Overall, 0-0 NSIC) scored two runs in the final two innings to edge Minot State (4-5 Overall, 0-0 NSIC), 3-2.

"It was a good game," said Minot State head coach Brock Weppler. "I thought Zorn (Austin Zorn, Jr., P, Bismarck, N.D.) did a good job on the mound. He didn't have his best stuff but he got better as the game went on even being on short rest. We were solid on defense and had good at bats but it just comes down to execution."

Zorn, Minot State's starter, kept the Huskies offensive attack off balance for the first six innings as he held them to five hits and just one earned run while notching three strikeouts.

The Beavers led 2-1 entering the eighth inning, after Alec Grothe (So., P, Mandan, N.D.) induced a inning ending 6-4-3 double play to end the seventh. But the Huskies were able to score a run in the eighth to tie it up off a Garrett Fischer single to left field.

In the ninth, SCSU scored the go ahead run with two outs as Brandon Arnold knocked a base hit over first baseman Sean Arbaut's (Sr., Inf., Tehachapi, Calif.) head to score leadoff man Eric Loxtercamp who hit a double just the batter before.

In the ninth inning, Minot State came out swinging, literally, as Arbaut laced a single to start the inning which was followed by another base hit by Nick Hammerl (Jr., Inf., West Peoria, Ill.).

With two runners on and no outs, MISU planned on sacrificing the runners over, but couldn't get the bunt down in three attempts as he struck out with a fouled bunt. Andrew Roach (Jr., OF, Gilbert, Ariz.) and Connor Moughtin (Sr., C, Victoria, British Columbia) each grounded out to end the game as Minot State led a game slip through their hands.

"We have to get our bunts down," said Weppler. "It's expected to get that bunt down, especially in that last inning. Second and third with one out is a lot different than first and second with one out.

"Overall we put ourselves in position to win it," said Weppler. "That's all you can ask for when competing with a team like St. Cloud or any team against their caliber. We bounced back from a tough loss yesterday and fought hard and scratched."

Offensively, Minot State was led by Moughtin and Hammerl who each had two hits in the loss. Roach was the only Beaver to cross home plate as he scored both of the team's runs.

Minot State will be off Thursday March 13 but will have their chance for revenge as they will face St. Cloud State on Friday March 14 at 9 p.m. (7 p.m. PST).