SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Minot State University allowed 18 runs in two games to a red-hot Augustana College team in a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball losses Saturday at Bowden Field.
 
MSU lost 9-0 in 5 innings in game 1 and gave up a lead only to have a late rally fall short in a 9-8 loss in game 2.
 
The Beavers (20-8 overall, 1-4 NSIC) came into the weekend as one of the hottest teams in the country, winning nine straight games, but finished the road trip 0-4. The No. 18 ranked Vikings (25-5, 6-0) have won eight straight and 15 of their last 16 since falling to the Beavers in Florida March 16.
 
In game 2, the Beavers jumped out to a 1-0 lead as they scored on an RBI single by Ashley Hill (Fr., 1B, Mesa, Ariz.), scoring Jordan Grant (So., CF, Adelnato, Calif.). The run was of the manufactured variety as Grant struck out, but reached on a wild pitch, stole second and eventually scored on the Hill single.
 
It grew to 6-0 with a five-run second as Grant, Melissa Bell (Sr., UTL, Belgrade, Mont.), Hill and Rachel Burdette (So., UTL, Temecula, Calif.) drove in runs. Burdette's single off of reliever Janelle Trautmann scored two runs and looked at the time to be a huge hit as Trautmann shut the Beavers down in game 1.
 
But Augustana College battled back with three in the second and six in the fourth to take a 9-6 lead.
 
MSU got one back with a solo home run by Ali Cygan (Sr., SS, Bozeman, Mont.) in the sixth. It was Cygan's fifth HR on the season and her 33rd RBI.
 
The Beavers nearly forced extras as well as they scored an unearned run in the seventh as Alyssa Cornejo (So., P/UTL, Riverside, Calif.) scored on a bad throw by shortstop and MSU had two runners on, but couldn't plate the equalizer.
 
Trautmann had three RBIs and earned the win in relief to move her record to 15-1 on the season. The lone loss was to MSU in Florida. Caitlin Nichol went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored as the leadoff for the Vikings.
 
Hill was 2 for 4, Grant 2 for 5 and Rylee Cygan (Fr., C, Bozeman, Mont.) 2 for 3for the Beavers at the plate with Hill driving in two. Ali Cygan and Grant scored two runs each. Cornejo suffered her first loss of the year, going 3 1/3 innings, giving up eight hits and eight runs. Jenn Spencer (So., P, Winnipeg, Manitoba) pitched two scoreless innings in relief, giving up just two hits for MSU.
 
Game 1 was not a good outing for the Beavers as Augie finished with 11 hits and nine runs, hitting three home runs – one each by Trautmann, Carley Pickett and Sarah Kennedy.
 
The Beavers were limited to just four hits, one each by Grant, Bell, Ali Cygan and Leyna Downey (Sr., OF, Missoula, Mont.).
 
Lorimor suffered the loss, allowing 11 hits and nine runs in four innings.
 
Minot State finally gets home as the Beavers play six games at South Hill Complex this coming week, starting with a NSIC double-header Tuesday with Minnesota Crookston. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.