ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minot State University scored four runs in the fifth inning of game 1 to secure its second straight Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference series win, rallying for a 6-4 win over Concordia St. Paul Monday at Barnes Field.

The Beavers (11-4 overall, 6-2 NSIC) couldn't work anymore late-game magic in game 2, falling 3-2 but took the series 3-1 with the Golden Bears.

"We came out with some serious energy again today," said MSU head coach Scott Eul. "If we play like this, sweeps will come. I really happy with how we are playing."

MSU scored two in the top of the third as Jordan Schulz singled home a run, but trailed 3-2 heading into the top of the fifth inning. The Beavers, however, got to CSP starter Keanu Mendez in the fifth scoring four runs on five hits and were helped by an error on the Golden Bears. Sean Alp picked up two RBIs on a single and Michael Borst and Celestino Rodriguez both drove in runs. Rodriguez doubled home Borst to put the Beavers up 6-3.

Beavers' starter Justin Demary, who improved to 3-1 with the win, gave up a single run in the bottom of the fifth as the Golden Bears cut the lead to 6-4, but freshman Dylan Roach locked down his first collegiate save with a perfect seventh.

"Dylan came in and hammered down the save in the first game," Eul said. "It was great to see a freshman step up in a big situation and make plays."

Alp, Schulz, Rodriguez and Trevaun Smith all finished with two hits for the Beavers.

Zach Elder finished with two hits and drove in two runs for CSP. He was the only Golden Bear with a multi-hit game.

Demary pitched six innings, giving up six hits and four runs to outduel Mendez who gave up six runs on nine hits. He only gave up two earned runs as CSP committed three errors in the game.

In game 2, MSU scored two in the first inning Rodriguez singled home Kyle Williamson and Schulz, but that was all the Beavers could push across.

CSP (10-10, 4-4) pitching tandem of Connor Hurley and Jake Kounkel silenced the Beavers' bats giving up just seven hits and no runs after the first inning. Kounkel pitched two no-hit innings to earn the win in relief.
MSU's starter Kendal Daniels was nearly as good, pitching 7.2 innings, allowing nine hits and three runs with five strikeouts.

"Kendal pitched really well," Eul said. "He has struggled in a couple starts, but bounced back today. He threw hard and had a few pitches working. It was nice to see him step up like that. Their guys threw well for them too, runs were tough to come by."

MSU carried a 2-1 lead into the eighth, but the Golden Bears scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to salvage the split. Carter Schmidt led CSP with three hits and two RBIs.

Seven different MSU players had one hit. Williamson went 1 for 4 and scored a run, while Rodriguez went 1 for 4 with two RBIs.

"Overall, we had another solid day. I don't think we had an error on the weekend, so that's nice to see in the field," Eul said.

The Beavers will have one more double-header on the road, facing Minnesota Crookston Wednesday, before making their home debut Saturday and Sunday, playing host to Winona State.

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.