Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State University baseball team extended their season-high six game winning streak with a pair of Northern Sun wins over University of Minnesota Crookston Thursday afternoon at Corbett Field.

The Beavers (17-21 Overall, 11-13 NSIC) took down the Golden Eagles (1-43 Overall, 0-32 NSIC) 16-4 in game one before beating UMC 6-5 in dramatic fashion in the final home game of the season.

After surrendering two runs in the top of the ninth inning to extend the game to the bottom of the ninth, Minot State received a clutch hit from senior Connor Moughtin (C, Victoria, British Columbia) to end "Senior Day" on a positive note.

In a 5-5 game, Moughtin stepped up to the plate with one out to face UMC's Marcus Campbell.  He delivered in a big way, belting his third home run of the season over the left field fence to win the game in walk off fashion.

"They were attacking off speed pretty much all day and the pitcher fell behind 1-0 so I figured a fastball was coming," said Moughtin. "I was looking for my pitch middle-in and I squared it up pretty well."

"Obviously, that was a big hit by Connor," said Minot State head coach Brock Weppler. "It was a clutch play by a senior to end his home career, so that was great."

After building a 3-1 lead after three innings, Minot State allowed the Golden Eagles to score runs in the fourth and sixth innings to even things at three.

In the eighth inning, Minot State appeared wrap up the game as Tyler Stevenson (Sr., OF, Cheyenne, Wyo.) scored on a wild pitch. Sean Arbaut (Sr., Inf., Tahachapi, Calif.) then drove in C.J. Lyte (Jr., OF, Vallejo, Calif.) to take the two run lead to the ninth.

In the top of the ninth, after a UMC single and walk, Matt Korte laced a double to left center field scoring both runners, tying the game and ultimately setting up the dramatic hit by Moughtin.

"We just came out flat in game two," said Weppler. "We got a little uptight and we let Crookston hang around, which is dangerous because they are a team that doesn't quit."

In the day's first game, the Minot State offense exploded for 16 runs on 18 hits as the Beavers scored in each of the first five innings. Pitching was also solid for MISU as Jesse Goertzen (So., P, Steinbach, Manitoba) and Jamin Heller (Sr., P, Lethbridge, Alberta) held the Golden Eagles to just seven hits in seven innings.

However, no one had a better, or more interesting, day than Brad Rolff (Jr., Inf., North Fork, Calif.). In game one, Rolff went 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, one triple while driving in five runs and scoring three times.

Oh yeah, he also helped capture a muskrat that wondered onto Corbett Field during the fourth inning. He used some shifty moves to avoid being bitten by the rodent, and helped safely secure it and releasing it outside into a wooded area near the field.

"I was just trying to keep my hands inside and do what I do best at the plate," said Rolff "As for the muskrat, I first just wanted to catch it with my glove but coach wouldn't allow me to do that because I might have been bit, but we were able to get it into a bucket and back outside the ballpark. It was definitely a weird little thing though."

"Brad had a big day today," said Weppler. "He kept his hands in and that is when he has success. He does a lot of different things with the bat and we are a good team when he gets rolling down there in the bottom of the order."

Andrew Roach (Sr., OF, Gilbert, Ariz.) also had a fantastic game going 4-for-5 at the plate with four runs scored and three runs batted in. A.J. Begay also had a big day going 3-for-4 with two runs batted in.

"We had good approaches that first game," said Weppler. "We didn't try to do anything too big, we had good at bats and went the other way. It's something we've been working on for the past few weeks and we did a good job of that today."

With six consecutive wins, Minot State now has a chance to control their own destiny in making the postseason for the first time as members of the NSIC.

With four games remaining in the regular season, all coming against Bemidji State (19-20 Overall, 13-13 NSIC), MISU can secure a playoff berth with four wins and a little help from Northern State.

BSU and Southwest Minnesota State University (23-20 Overall, 14-13 NSIC) both sit ahead of the Beavers for the final playoff spot, but with a 4-0 record on the weekend and a 2-2 finish by SMSU versus Northern State would secure the final playoff spot for Minot State.

MISU and BSU will begin their season ending series Saturday May 3 at 12/2 p.m. from Bemidji, Minn.