Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MARSHALL, Minn. – Minot State University rallied from a two run deficit with a five-run fourth inning to salvage a split in a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball games at Southwest Minnesota State Saturday at Mustang Field.

Southwest Minnesota State (4-16 overall, 1-3 NSIC) won game 1 6-1 before the Beavers earned a 6-3 win in game 2. The win in game 2 gave the Beavers their first win of the season in conference play. Minot State (14-8 overall, 1-3 NSIC) also snapped a modest three-game losing streak with the win. The Beavers are scheduled to continue NSIC road games at the University of Sioux Falls Sunday.

Game 2 belonged to senior Jen Dixon (OF/P, Brandon, Manitoba). Dixon pitched a complete game six hitter to improve to 4-1 in the circle and went 2 for 4 with a run scored as the Beavers' leadoff hitter. It was the first time she has batted in the leadoff position and she responded as the team's only batter with multiple hits.

"In game 2, we pitched well and hit a lot better," said MISU head coach Bill Triplett. "Dixon went all seven for the complete-game victory and helped herself out with a couple of knocks. Hopefully we can carry that momentum into tomorrow's game with Sioux Falls."

The Beavers fell behind in the game as SMSU scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning, but Minot State ended a threat in the second with a rare triple play and then rallied in the fourth.

In the fourth, Rachel Burdette (Fr., P/UTL, Temecula, Calif.) tripled to open the inning and scored on a single by Katie Backes (Sr., UTL, Minot, N.D.). The Beavers scored four more as Darlene Truong (Jr., C, Escondido, Calif.) and Melissa Bell (Jr., C, Belgrade, Mont.) singled in runs and Ali Cygan (Jr., SS, Bozeman, Mont.) plated two with a base hit.

After the two runs in the second, Dixon settled in and gave up just five hits after the second, three coming in succession as the Mustangs scored one in the sixth.

In game 1, the Beavers gave up 13 hits and fell behind 5-0 after two innings. Southwest Minnesota State got two hits and three runs batted in by J Neely in the first two innings. Jazmyne Neely went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and two doubles.

"We didn't hit with runners in scoring position during the first game and SMSU knocked out 12 hits and really took it to us," Triplett said. "The only offense we could get was a towering home run by Dixon."

Minot State finished with just five hits, including a home run by Dixon, her third of the season. Backes went 2 for 3 with a double and went 3 for 7 in the double header.

Mindy Lorimor (Jr., P, Thurman, Iowa) suffered the loss in game 1, while Rachel Hoeppner gave up just one run in seven innings for the win. Dixon defeated Alex O'Connor, who went four innings, in game 2.