Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BEMIDJI, Minn. – In the final regular season series of the 2014 season, Minot State split the opening two games with conference rival Bemidji State Saturday afternoon.

Minot State (18-22 Overall, 12-14 NSIC) lost game one in a ten inning battle 4-3 before rebounding with a 3-1 win over Bemidji State (20-21 Overall, 14-14 NSIC) in game two. MISU will now need to win both games against BSU Sunday afternoon to have a chance of making the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament for the first time in school history.

In game one, Minot State got an outstanding performance from starting pitcher Austin Zorn (Jr., P, Bismarck, N.D.). Zorn went nine innings while allowing just two earned runs and seven hits while striking out three BSU batters.

 "Zorn threw really well and went deep into the game, something like 111 pitches and got us into the ninth," said Minot State head coach Brock Weppler. "He was lights out again for us. We just needed a couple more outs (in the seventh)."
 
MISU led 3-1 entering the final inning of the game but BSU used a Minot State error and a two RBI single by Zach Braun to tie things up and force extra innings. Braun later did damage in the tenth inning as he doubled to right center to start the inning. He later scored the winning run on a Cole Bjorge single to snap MISU's six-game winning streak.
 
In game two, Minot State had another stellar pitching performance, this time from sophomore Austin Berntson (So., Minot, N.D.). He threw his second complete game of the season as he limited Bemidji State to four hits and just one earned run in seven innings to pick up his third win of the year.
 
 "The pitchers did exactly what they needed to do," said Weppler. "We talked about what they needed to do against Bemidji and how they are aggressive at the plate and we needed to attack them. You can't fall behind on them and Zorn and Bernie good a good job all day long of attacking the zone. We had really quick, efficient innings for the most part."
 
Offensively, between the two games Minot State collected 17 hits but could only notch six runs on the day. Conner Oliver (Jr., OF/P, Dayton, Nev.), A.J. Begay (Sr., 3B, Salt Lake City, Utah), Paul Vogelsang (R-Fr., C, Regina, Saskatchewan) and Tyler Stevenson (Sr., OF, Cheyenne, Wyo.) all had two hits in game one while Sean Arbaut (Sr., Inf., Tehachapi, Calif.) was the only Beaver to recorded more than one hit in the MISU win.
 
 "We collected a lot of hits and probably did enough offensively to win. We squared up a couple balls and had good approaches at the plate overall. "
 
Even though, MISU lost, the good news is they are still in the hunt for the final spot in the NSIC Tournament. To make the tournament as an eight seed, Minot State will need to win both games Sunday afternoon, but they will also need some help.
 
Northern State will need to beat Southwest Minnesota State twice Sunday. If these two circumstances come to fruition, the Beavers will make the playoffs and will face No. 1 seed Minnesota State University in the first round.

 "We will take the same approach tomorrow," said Weppler. "We need to win two and have some help (SMSU losing two), but being in a playoff run like this is a big step for us. I talked about it before the game and focues on the seniors, Roach, Moughtin and Heller and what they have been through in this program, the flood and not having home games and their independent year and they've led us to this situation. We are treating these like playoff games and are trying to extend the season. That's exciting."
 
Minot State and Bemidji State will end the regular season Sunday afternoon with first pitch coming at 12/2 p.m. from Bemidji, Minn.
 
– GO BEAVERS –