CROOKSTON, Minn. – Minot State University couldn't find consistency from game to game, falling twice at Minnesota Crookston in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference baseball to end a six-game road trip Thursday.

The Beavers fell 10-5 in game 1, giving up 12 hits and dropped a 2-1 decision in game 2, finishing with just five hits.

"This is the first time this year we have put together two back-to-back games where we didn't play well," said MSU head coach Scott Eul. "So I'm ready to get after it in practice tomorrow and get ready for a big series vs Winona this weekend."

In game 1, MSU fell behind early and never fully recovered. In fact, 14 of the game's 15 runs came in the first two innings. MSU gave up seven runs in the bottom of the first inning and allowed two more in the second after scoring five of their own in the top of the second.

The Beavers (11-6 overall, 6-4 NSIC) finished with 13 hits, but stranded 15 runners in the seven-inning game. Kyle Williamson, Sean Alp, Michael Borst and Geordie McDougall all finished with two hits apiece for the Beavers. Paul Vogelsang drove in two runs and Alp, Jordan Schulz and Justin Demary all drove in one run.

Aaron Kern suffered the loss, giving up seven runs. Mark LaCroix kept the Beavers in the game pitching four innings in relief, giving up just one run on five hits while striking out four batters. UMC's Jacob Butcher was credited with the win.

"We weren't very good defensively today which really cost us," added Eul. "We got a little bit lazy and weren't able to execute."

In game 2, pitching wasn't the issue as Brock Breshears was outstanding. He pitched 7.1 innings giving up two runs with one earned run on seven hits. He struck out three batters, but suffered the tough-luck loss.

"I thought Brock threw the ball really well today and gave us a chance to win" Eul said. "It was good to see him in his first real big opportunity give us that effort."

The Beavers took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning as Wyatt Schlosser doubled home Schulz, who doubled four batters earlier. But MSU couldn't push across another run as four UMC relievers limited MSU to just one hit over the final five innings. Gabriel Cavasos earned the win in relief for the Golden Eagles (11-11, 5-5) with Zach Seipel picking up his fourth save.

Schulz finished with two hits, both doubles, for the Beavers. Schlosser, Vogelsang and Kyle Williamson picked up the other three hits for MSU.

Minot State will look to rebound with its home opener Saturday and Sunday taking on Winona State in a pair of NSIC double-headers. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. both days at Jack Hoeven Field.

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.