LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Minot State University split a pair of games to finish 1-1 on day 1 at the Montana State-Billings Desert Stinger Friday at Majestic Park.

The Beavers (1-1 overall) couldn't get their offense going in game 1, falling 3-1 against Northwest Nazarene University, but did get the bats warmed up in a 9-6 win over Stanislaus State in their second game.

"Our bats were cold and we couldn't get the big hit," said MSU head coach Bill Triplett. "In game two, we scored lots of runs and held on to win. (Alyssa) Cornejo (Jr., P/UTL, Riverside, Calif.), (Clarissa) Ramirez (Jr., P/UTL, Tucson, Ariz.) and (Jenn) Spencer (Jr., P/1B, Winnipeg, Manitoba) all gave us innings and Ramirez and (Sarah) Nicks (Jr., C, Grossmont, Calif.) hit two long home runs. We were not happy with the split but bouncing back with a win was good."

The bats came alive to the tune of 12 hits and nine runs in game 2 as the Beavers built a big seven run lead and then held on to top Stanislaus. MSU broke out with five runs in the top of the third as Rachel Burdette (Jr., UTL, Temecula, Calif.) tripled home a run and Ashley Hill (So., 1B, Mesa, Ariz.) doubled in one more. In all, MSU finished the fifth with seven hits and five runs.

Hill drove in three as she went 3 for 4, singling home runs in the first and sixth innings. Ramirez hit a solo shot in the second to give MSU a 3-0 lead and Nicks cranked a solo blast in the fifth that had the Beavers up 8-2 at the time.

Cornejo went 4 1/3 innings to earn her first win of the season, while Ramirez and Spencer each pitched an inning and a third in relief. Spencer struck out three in her relief outing.

Spencer was the unfortunate losing pitcher in game 1 as she was solid throughout. She gave up six hits and three runs, but none were earned in a complete game. She struck out five for a total of right on the day.

But she was outdueled by NNU's Goodwin who worked six innings, allowing just one unearned run and two hits for the win.
The Beavers struggled at times in the field, making five errors in the game leading to the Northwest Nazarene runs.

"We didn't help Spencer at all in game one as she pitched very well," Triplett said. "All three of the runs we gave up were unearned."

Hill and Jordan Grant (Jr., CF, Adelanto, Calif.) picked up hits and Cornejo drove in the Beavers only run.

MSU is back on the diamond with two more contests at Majestic Park Saturday, taking on Azusa Pacific and Concordia University (Ore.) at 1:30 and 4 p.m. (CST).

About Minot State
Minot State University is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and NCAA Division II offering 14 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletics programs. The NSIC is a premier NCAA DII, 16-member conference featuring teams in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. The Beavers are the only public NCAA Division II institution in the state of North Dakota.