Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BISMARCK, N.D. – Minot State University baseball found a way to win game 1 and that propelled the Beavers to a huge sweep of two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference road wins over rival University of Mary Saturday at the U-Mary Field.

The Beavers (15-21 overall, 9-13 NSIC), who won for the fifth-straight game, overcame a 5-2 deficit with four runs over the final two innings to earn a 6-5 win in game 1 and then steamrolled the Marauders (15-29, 6-18) 13-4 in game 2. With the pair of wins, Minot State moved into 10th place overall, just three games back of Southwest Minnesota State and four behind Bemidji State with six to place. Minot State, looking to get into the top eight and a spot in the NSIC tournament, takes on Minnesota Crookston in a midweek clash, before ending the regular season at BSU.

"This was very big for us," said MISU head coach Brock Weppler. "We had very good stuff overall today, hit the ball well, fielded it cleanly, it was a good weekend."

In game 1, the Beavers' starter Joshua Larsen (Jr., P, Surrey, British Columbia) was solid though 4 1/3 as he gave up just three hits and allowed three runs – two earned- while striking out three. MISU's bullpen was a little shaky but Jesse Goertzen (So., P, Steinbach, Manitoba) came in to lock down the Marauders late after Minot State took the lead. Goertzen improved to 3-4 on the season with two scoreless innings.

"Goertzen had good stuff and good for him," Weppler said. "He has been struggling a little bit. We were a little tight overall in the game, but the big thing for us is we took the momentum right back from there with a big inning after their big inning. We talked about it yesterday that you have to respond and we did."

The Beavers again got contributions up and down the lineup as seven players accounted for MISU's eight hits as Conner Oliver (Jr., P/OF, Dayton, Nev.) finished with two hits and drove in a game-high three runs. He, Nicholas Hammerl (Jr., SS/2B, West Peoria, Ill.) and Conner Moughtin (Sr., C, Victoria, British Columbia) all drove in runs as Hammerl plated two for MISU.

"We had good approaches at the plate all day again and there really isn't one hero in the lineup. We have been getting contributions from a lot of different players," Weppler said.

U-Mary's Zach Steckler pitched just a third of an inning but was saddled with the loss for the Marauders.

In game 2, the drama was over little earlier as Minot State score four in the second, one in the third, three in the fifth and then poured it on late with five over the final three innings to complete the sweep. Minot State is now 7-for-8 against its chief rival over the past two seasons in league play.

Sean Arbaut (Sr., INC, Tehachapi, Calif.) went 4-for-5 with four RBIs from the No. 9 spot and Oliver, Moughtin and A.J. Begay (Sr., 3B, Salt Lake City, Utah) all collected three hits. Moughtin hit two home runs and drove in three, Oliver finished with two RBIs and Andrew Roach (Jr., P/OF, Gilbert, Ariz.) plated two for Minot State.

"Our goal is to go out and win and we don't care if it is ugly or not," Weppler said. "We are working on each pitch, not each inning or each game, but winning each pitch and the guys have really bought into that."

Brock McCashland (Jr., P, Ogden, Utah) pitched a complete game, using 117 pitches to limit U-Mary to four runs on 11 hits, while striking out seven. He allowed just two earned runs in the game. Michael Vollrath of U-Mary suffered the loss.
The Beavers will play host to Minnesota Crookston for two games Wednesday at Corbett Field for Minot State's final home games and senior day.