Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University hammered out 28 runs and 30 hits to sweep Bemidji State 17-1 and 11-1 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball Thursday at Herb Parker Stadium.

The two Beavers universities were scheduled to play in Bemidji, Minn., Wednesday, but the games were moved to Minot due to weather issues. Minot State moved the games to the turf at Herb Parker as well.

Minot State (18-8 overall, 5-3 NSIC) wasted little time punishing Bemidji State pitching as the MSU Beavers scored three in the top of the first and 10 in the top of the second of game 1.  It stayed a little closer in game 2 early, but Minot State pulled away scoring one in the second, two in the third and three in the fourth to take a 6-1 lead through four.

"It was nice to get the bats going," said MISU head coach Bill Triplett. "We were comfortable at the plate all day. We just came off four games with really good pitching and we just seemed comfortable here today. Once we got going, it was contagious."
Hitting long balls seemed contagious as well as Minot State pounded out two home runs in game 1 and another in game 2. Rachel Burdette (Fr., P/UTL, Temecula, Calif.) hit a three-run HR in game 1, Jen Dixon (Sr., P/OF, Brandon, Manitoba) destroyed a pitch over both fences in right field for a grand slam in game 1 and Katie Backes (Sr., UTL, Minot, N.D.) launched a solo shot to center in game 2.

"Jen's ball is probably the hardest hit home run I have ever seen," Triplett said. "It was still 50 feet off the ground when it cleared the second fence. It was also really nice to see Katie stay on the ball and hit those line drives up the middle including the home run. She must have had five or six hits today."

Backes finished with seven hits, going 5-for-5 in game 2, with seven runs batted in and five runs scored. Dixon was 3-for-6 with five RBIs and Melissa Bell (Jr., C, Belgrade, Mont.) was 5-for-8 with five runs scored and two RBIs.

While the bats garnered all the headlines, Minot State's pitching staff was solid throughout. Minot State limited BSU (11-11, 0-6) to just five hits in two games including a combined one-hitter for Dixon and Mindy Lorimor (Jr., P, Thurman, Iowa) in game 2. Dixon (6-1 in the circle) went six innings allowing one hit and one run while striking out 10. Lorimor pitched a perfect seventh and was the winner in game 1 allowing one run on two hits with four strikeouts to improve to 12-5 on the year.

"Jen has really come around this year and is getting better and better," Triplett said. "Our pitching staff did a good job overall today. We didn't allow (BSU) to get much going."

Minot State will play two more NSIC double headers this weekend as they play host to Winona State Saturday and Upper Iowa Sunday. The games have been moved up to 11 a.m. both days at the Herb to accommodate the University of Mary playing two home series as well on the turf. U-Mary will take on UIU Saturday and WSU Sunday starting at 3 p.m. both days.