MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University rallied for two runs in the bottom of the 11th inning to play the role of spoiler Monday in the conclusion of a rain postponed Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball double header at Herb Parker Stadium.

The first game picked up in the second inning after lightning and rain halted play Sunday. St. Cloud State won that game, overcoming a 1-0 MSU lead with two in the sixth and another in the seventh to keep its playoff hopes alive with a 3-1 win.

But a pair of walks with the bases loaded in the 11th in game 2 helped Minot State finish on a high note, taking a 3-2 win, and bouncing the Huskies from the NSIC tournament.

"Where we both were in the standing was a motivator for us because the same thing happened to us last year," said MSU head coach Bill Triplett. "We came into the games at St. Cloud last year needing to sweep to get in and split, just like today. But mostly for us, we are just trying to get better and better and we were battling. Our pitching has been good lately and we want to see that set the tone for next season."

The Beavers pitching staff of Jenn Spencer (Jr., Winnipeg, Manitoba), Alyssa Cornejo (Jr., Riverside, Calif.) and Clarissa Ramirez (Jr., Tucson, Ariz.) held SCSU to just five runs and 19 hits over the course of 18 innings in the double header. Ramirez earned the win in game 2 by getting the final two outs of the top of the 11th, one coming on a strikeout, while Spencer gave up just one earned run in 10 1/3 innings for a no decision. Cornejo gave up just eight hits and two earned runs while striking out six in game 1.

"We've been right there with these teams down the stretch, it's not like we were getting blown out," Triplett said. "Beating (Minnesota) Duluth (Saturday), who was regionally ranked and being up on Winona 6-4 going into the seventh earlier in the season, were great for this team. Now, starting to win these games is really good for our young team."

MSU (16-30 overall, 5-23 NSIC) had a 1-0 lead heading into the seventh inning, but gave up a run in the top of the seven to force the seventh extra inning game of the season. The Beavers gave up a run in the 11th but manufactured one in the bottom of the inning to improve to 4-3 in extras.

Rachel Burdette (Jr., UTL, Temecula, Calif.) started the rally with a one-out double. She moved to third on a single by Ashley Hill (So., 1B, Mesa, Ariz.) and then scored the tying run after Isis Cabral (Fr., OF, Oxnard, Calif.) and Cornejo walked. SCSU got an out on a fielder's choice before Lauren Cowden (Fr., UTL, Moorpark, Calif.) drew another bases loaded walk for the game winner.

"I felt pretty good going into the inning because we were sitting at two, three and four in the order and Ramirez and Rachel have been having really good at bats," Triplett said. "Ashley also had a chance in her previous at bat and struck out and I knew she would be more keyed in and take advantage on one more opportunity. I really think it's going to be positive to finish like this heading into next year."

Ramirez, Burdette and Hill all finished with two hits, while Hill, Cornejo and Cowden all finished with RBIs.

In game 1, MSU led 1-0 as Jordan Grant (Jr., CF, Adelanto, Calif.) drove in Cabral in the fourth. But SCSU (26-29, 12-18) scored late to earn the win.

Grant finished with two hits to pace the Beavers, while Ramirez, Burdette and Hill all had a hit apiece.

MSU graduates just one senior, Vanessa Christiuk (3B, Dufrost, Manitoba), who earned a start at third in both games, finishing with a sacrifice, a putout and two assists in the double header.

"She's our one senior and has been with us for four years and we wanted to give her a chance to get some time at third base," Triplett said. "She played really well for us. We want to thank her for everything she has done for the program."

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.