The Beavers, as head coach Bill Triplett put it, "let an inning slip a little," with a couple of errors late in game 2, but beyond that, MSU did all four phases – run, hit, pitch and field – nearly perfectly.

"It came to the 14th inning and I saw a little mental drop," Triplett said. "But overall, we were very, very good."

MSU (29-16 overall, 10-12 NSIC) cruised in both, taking game 1 5-0 behind a two-hitter by Mindy Lorimor (Sr., P, Thurman, Iowa) and 6-2 in game 2 to complete a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball double header sweep of Concordia University, St. Paul at South Hill Complex.

"It's very evident that we are in playoff mode already," Triplett said. "We came out in both games and were focused early."

In game 1, Lorimor was efficient in the circle and was nearly unhittable. She gave up two singles to CSP No. 3 hitter Jamie Fleischhacker, but nothing to the rest of the Golden Bears (16-29, 10-12). She struck out five and didn't walk a batter in the shutout.

"Mindy was hitting her spots, changing speeds and was in command," Triplett said. "We told her she would most likely pitch both games and she was up to the challenge. She gave up two hits to a very good hitter for them and those were really the only two mistakes she made the whole game.

"When she's good – because we can score some runs most of the time – we are very good."

The Beavers finished with 11 hits as Jordan Grant (So., CF, Adelnato, Calif.), Ali Cygan (Sr., SS, Bozeman, Mont.), Rachel Burdette (So., UTL, Temecula, Calif.) and Leyna Downey (Sr., OF, Missoula, Mont.) all finished with two hits apiece. Burdette drove in two, while Alyssa Cornejo (So., P/UTL, Riverside, Calif.) and Sarah Nicks (So., C, Grossmont, Calif.) both hit solo home runs.

"It really helps when you can leave the yard a couple times. That's instant offense," Triplett said.

Game 2 was similar as game 1, but MSU wasn't quite as efficient in all facets of the game. CSP took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Golden Bears first run in eight innings against Lorimor, but the Beavers responded. Ashley Hill (So., 1B, Mesa, Calif.) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Burdette plated another with a single.

Rylee Cygan (Fr., C, Bozeman, Mont.) hit her first career home run, a solo shot in the third, and MSU blew it open with three in the fifth as Melissa Bell (Sr. UTL, Belgrade, Mont.), Ali Cygan and Hill all drove in runs.

"It's nice to get runs from players other than the top of the order," Triplett said of Rylee Cygan's HR. "And Ashley Hill has been really good for us. She is nearing 50 RBIs and for a freshman that's outstanding."

The Golden Bears got an unearned run in the seventh, but MSU finished off the sweep. Lizzy Swenson had two hits for CSP in game 2, while Stephanie Kappes pitched two innings in the loss. She was also game 1's losing pitcher, falling to 10-17 on the year.

Lorimor gave up two unearned runs and six hits in game 2, striking out five more batters to improve to 19-11 on the season.

Bell, Ali Cygan and Hill all had two hits and at least one RBI with Hill plating two.

The wins capped a festive day for the Minot State as President Dr. Steven Shirley threw out a ceremonial first pitch before game 2, firing a strike, to cap off his Inauguration Weekend. MSU will finish its celebration on Sunday with a tailgate at the start of the Beavers double header. Minot State finishes off the weekend with two games against Minnesota State Sunday at South Hill Complex with first pitch slated for Noon.