WEST ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minot State University used a key grand slam by senior Melissa Bell (C, Belgrade, Mont.) to rally in game 1 against Bemidji State, helping MSU to a sweep in the final day of the West St. Paul Dome Tournament Thursday at the West St. Paul Dome.

The Beavers defeated Bemidji State 6-5 behind a four-run fourth inning, erasing a 5-2 BSU lead and then cruised to a 6-0 win over Minnesota Crookston in the final game of the tournament. All games were against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams, but were nonconference games.

"It was a good trip," said MSU head coach Bill Triplett. "We came back from behind in the first game and that's a good sign for our team to be able to do that early in the year."

Minot State jumped out to a 2-0 lead with runs in the first and third innings, but Bemidji State (1-2 overall) took a lead with a big five-run fourth inning. BSU chased MSU starter Jenn Spencer (So., P, Winnipeg, Manitoba) after she was very good in the first three innings. Reliever Mindy Lorimor (Sr., P, Thurman, Iowa) stopped the bleeding by getting out of the inning and get MSU back to offense.

It didn't take MSU long to respond.

Bell belted her second home run of the season to clear the bases in the fourth to push MSU back in front. She went 2 for 4 in the game with four RBIs and two runs scored. She also gave Lorimor a lead she didn't relinquish.

"Bell hit a huge home run for us," Triplett said.

Lorimor worked the final 3 1/3 innings, giving up just one hit and striking out seven of the games next 11 outs to earn her fourth win of the season.

Jordan Grant (So., CF, Adelnato, Calif.) set the table with three hits and two runs scored, while Ali Cygan (Sr., SS, Bozeman, Mont.) and Ashley Hill (Fr., 1B, Mesa, Ariz.) each drove in a run.

Lorimor was again solid in game 2, topping Minnesota Crookston with 5 2/3 shutout ball. She only struck out two, but did not give up a hit. In fact, UMC didn't get a hit until one out in the seventh off of MSU relief pitching. On the day, Lorimor pitched 9.0 innings, giving up just one hit, no runs and struck out nine batters.

"Mindy was very steady for us all day," added Triplett.

Grant continued to stay hot at the top of the order, going 3 for 4 in game 2 with two runs scored. Cygan and Hill each drove in a run, Hill hit her first collegiate home run and Alyssa Cornejo (So., P/UTL, Riverside, Calif.) added a solo home run to her 2-for-4 day.

Minot State plays in another Dome tournament, taking on Minnesota Crookston and Wisconsin-Parkside at St. Cloud State's Dome facility March 7-8.