TUCSON, Ariz. – Minot State was unable to come away with a win Thursday morning, but it wasn't for a lack of offense.

The Beavers recorded 12 hits, including four extra-base hits, as they fell to Simpson College 13-8 in their fifth game at the Tucson Invitational.

Defense and pitching proved to be the deciding factor in the Beavers' loss as Simpson ended the game with 18 hits and the Beavers recorded three errors.

"Focus—we weren't focused," Minot State head coach Brock Weppler said. "We weren't ready to play. Early in the morning we were not ready to play. We were not focused from pitch one of the game."

Zach Thompson (So., P, Towner, N.D.) got the start on the mound for the Beavers but only managed to make it through 1.1 innings as he struggled with his command hitting two batters, walking two and giving up five runs.

After two innings the Beavers found themselves in a 5-1 hole but continued to chip away in proceeding innings. Jordan Schulz's (So., OF, Strasbourg, Saskatchewan) solo home run and a Micah Holmen (Jr., 1B/3B, Minot, N.D.) RBI single put the Beavers within two runs at the end of the 4th.

Simpson seemed to have an answer for every Minot State rally, though, as they built their lead back up to five in the middle of the 6th.

Minot State came their closest to a lead in the bottom of the 6th as both Schulz and Keith Ailes (Jr., OF/1B, Bozeman, Mont.) hit two-run homers moving the score to 8-7 in favor of Simpson.

But, once again, Simpson came back in the 7th inning scoring five runs of its own putting the game out of reach for good.

Schulz, Holmen and Jared Young (Fr., UTL/P, Prince George, British Columbia) all recorded two hits for the Beavers in the game. Young also pitched 2.0 innings of one-hit relief striking out five.

Minot State will take the day off Friday and continue play at the Tucson Invitational on Saturday, March 14. The Beavers are scheduled to face Dakota State at 2:30 p.m.