Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SIOUX CITY, Neb..– For the second consecutive day, Minot State University baseball and the University of Sioux Falls split a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games.

The Beavers (8-9 Overall, 2-2 NSIC) won the first game of the Sunday twin bill as they defeated the Cougars (12-9 Overall, 6-2 NSIC) 8-7 before falling to USF, 7-5, in the series finale.

After hitting two home runs in Saturday's win over the Cougars, MISU used the same recipe for success in Sunday's first game as they hit four home runs in the win. The Beavers, who hit just two home runs in 38 games during the 2013 season, have already hit 14 round trippers through 17 games this season.

Sean Arbaut (Sr., Inf., Tehachapi, Calif.) got the scoring started for Minot State as he blasted a two-run home run to straight away right field to put the Beavers up 2-0. The home run was Arbaut's second of the season.

After surrendering the lead, MISU went to the fourth inning tied at three runs apiece with the Cougars before Paul Vogelsang (R-Fr., C, Regina, Saskatchewan) untied things with a solo home run to left field. Vogelsang leads the Beavers with four home runs on the year while also hitting .400 during his freshman campaign.

Later in the fourth Conner Oliver (Jr., OF/P, Dayton, Nev.) blasted his first home run in a Beaver uniform, a solo home run to right field. He wasn't done with the bat, however, as he outdid himself in the sixth inning by blasting a long bomb to right field—bouncing off the scoreboard. Oliver's second home run of the game gave the Beavers a 7-3 advantage.

In the top of the seventh, Minot State received a huge insurance run off the bat of Nicholas Hammerl (Jr., Inf., West Peoria, Ill.) who drilled a solo home run to left center to make the score 8-5 in favor of the Beavers.

"The guys are swinging well right now," said Minot State head coach Brock Weppler. "We are going up there with a plan at the plate and when we are getting our pitch we aren't missing it. We are putting the barrel of the ball and we've done a good job of swinging it with power over the weekend."

The home run came up big for the team as sophomore Doug Rolfson (P, Watford City, N.D.) surrendered two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Austin Zorn (Jr., P, Bismarck, N.D.) then came in to pick up the final two outs of the game, collecting his first save in his ninth appearance of the year.

"Doug will bounce back," said Weppler. "He left the ball up a little bit today but we are fortunate to have Austin to turn to who can fill up the zone and challenge their hitters."

Minot State collected 13 hits in the win led by Vogelsang and Andrew Roach (Jr., OF, Gilbert, Ariz.) who each had three hits and one RBI. Starting Pitcher Jesse Goertzen (So., P, Steinbach, Manitoba) picked up the win on the mound going six strong innings, giving up three earned runs and five hits.

In game two Sunday, University of Sioux Falls jumped out to a quick seven run advantage and held on for a 7-5 win. MISU starter Austin Berntson (So., P, Minot, N.D.) went just 3.2 innings giving up six earned runs and six hits. The Beaver bullpen then took things over as they combined for 4.1 innings of scoreless baseball, allowing Minot State to get back in the game.

Jamin Heller (Sr., P, Lethbridge, Alberta), Alec Grothe (So., P, Bismarck, N.D.) and Christopher Fischer (Jr., P, Cloverdale, British Columbia) combined for one strikeout while just giving just four hits to the USF hitters.

"I thought our bullpen gave us a chance today and that's all we can really ask for out of them," said Weppler. "They did what I wanted to see which was to keep their hitters guessing. I think we just ran out of time in that last game."

The Beaver offense then came to life as they scored five straight runs from the fifth inning until the ninth innings. A.J. Begay (Sr., 3B, Salt Lake City, Utah) hit his third home run of the season as he blasted a two-run home run to left center scoring Connor Moughtin (Sr., C, Victoria, British Columbia) who led MISU with three hits in the loss.

Minot State will now gear up for a two-game non-conference series in Miles City, Mont. against Montana State University-Billings. The Beavers and Yellow Jackets will play on Tuesday April 1 at 2/4 p.m.