BISMARCK, N.D. – Minot State University's Jenn Spencer twirled a two-hitter to help the Beavers to an 8-2 win in game 1 and a split of a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball games at the University of Mary in the team's league-opening series Wednesday at Clem Kelly Diamond.

Minot State (9-6 overall, 1-1 NSIC) could only muster two hits and committed five errors in game 2 as UM salvaged the split with a 6-1 win.

"We were good in game 1 and so was Jenn," said MSU head coach Bill Triplett. "Jenn stayed ahead of the hitters and had her drop and fastball hitting her spots."

Spencer allowed both runs in seven innings of work but only one was earned. She struck out three batters to run her season record to 6-3 overall.

After a 1-1 first inning, MSU took control of the game with three runs in each of the third and fourth innings. MSU capitalized on four Mary errors and got a timely double from Tori Zimmermann in the third to break open the game.

Zimmermann went 2 for 4 with four RBIs in game 1. She, Isis Cabral and Clarissa Ramirez all finished with two hits with Cabral and Ramirez driving in one run apiece.

"We played a clean game and hit the ball really well," Triplett said.

In game 2, the Marauders (7-20, 1-1) took advantage of MSU's miscues and chased MSU starter Clarissa Ramirez in the fifth inning. Ramirez pitched well enough to win, giving up just six hits in 4.2 innings pitched, but gave up five runs with two of them earned. Emma Casey went 1.1 innings and allowed one unearned run.

"In game two, we fell apart defensively and just didn't back Ramirez," said Triplett. "Anytime you give a team four or five outs in an inning, it will catch up to you. It's not the end of the world getting a split on the road, but we were hoping to get both games."

The Beavers were also limited at the plate as MSU finished with just two hits, both by shortstop Jordan Branch. Branch went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI.

Minot State continues its road swing to start its NSIC schedule, playing double headers at St. Cloud State (Saturday) and Minnesota Duluth (Sunday).

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.