Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University softball broke out of a slump to post 21 runs in a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win over St. Cloud State Saturday at Herb Parker Stadium.

The Beavers (26-14 overall, 13-9 NSIC) snapped a three-game losing streak with a five-inning 10-1 win in game 1 and followed that with a 11-3 six inning win. Both games were shortened due to the 8-run rule.

"These were pretty big for us," said MISU head coach Bill Triplett. "We took a quick peak at the standings and the fear kind of struck them. We need to get some wins (to qualify for the NSIC tournament) and they came out with more energy and were in each play mentally.

"We had a team meal last night and I texted some of the seniors after yesterday's games (two losses to Minnesota Duluth) and I think it was the seniors, especially Dixon (Jen Dixon, OF/P, Brandon, Manitoba), Backes (Katie Backes, UTL, Minot, N.D.) and Fournier (Stacy Fournier, 3B, Langley, British Columbia) that really got us going."

Triplett noted Dixon's solo home run to lead off the Beavers first inning in game 1 was a big moment for Minot State Saturday.

"That was big for us," he said. "Katie will be vocal and say what needs to be said, but Jen leads by example."

Dixon's solo blast, her NSIC-leading 12th of the season, both countered SCSU's Jessica Goerger's solo homer in the top of the first, and started a home run barrage for the Beavers that included back-to-back jacks from Backes and Rachel Burdette (Fr., P/UTL, Temecula, Calif.) in the third and a game-ending three-run shot from Alyssa Cornejo (Fr., P/2B, Riverside, Calif.) in the sixth.

"We were really swinging the bats better today, that's for sure," Triplett said.

Meanwhile, MISU starting pitcher Mindy Lorimor (Jr., Thurman, Iowa) settled in for a solid game, giving up just the first-inning solo home run and a total of two hits over five innings.

"Mindy was getting ahead and that made a big difference," Triplett said. "Our pitching was much better today overall. Jenn (Jenn Spencer, Fr., P/1B, Winnipeg, Manitoba) did a nice job getting some ground balls in relief in game 2 as well."

Backes and Burdette each had two hits for MISU as the Beavers outhit SCSU 10-2 in the game and 19-110 in the series.

In game 2, the Beavers built a 3-0 lead and a 7-1 cushion as they cruised to the win. While the Beavers didn't hit a home run in game 2, they did have four extra base hits and five players finished with at least one hit. Dixon went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and two doubles and Darlene Truong (Jr., C, Escondido, Calif.) scored two runs and knocked in another while going 2-for-4 as well.

"This was a great way to bounce back for us," Triplett said. "Not just from the losses on Friday, but from how we have played lately. Hopefully we are back on track."

Lorimor went four innings, giving up just one run for her 19th win of the season.

The Beavers play at Minnesota Crookston Wednesday before returning to Minot for two games next weekend taking on Augustana College Saturday and Wayne State College Sunday.