MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University's Clarissa Ramirez roped a one-out, bases loaded double to right center field to help her own cause and lift the Beavers to a come-from-behind 5-3 win in game 2 over visiting Bemidji State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball Tuesday at Herb Parker Stadium.

The win sent Minot State (19-14 overall, 11-9 NSIC) to a sweep of a pair of games over BSU (20-15, 10-10) and capped a 6-2 record during an eight-game homestand. MSU defeated BSU 4-2 in game 1 and with the sweep moved a game past Bemidji for sole possession of sixth.

"This homestand was really good for us. We got some wins and the ones we did lose, we could have won," said MSU head coach Bill Triplett. "We are coming together. These were really good wins for us. Bemidji is right there with us. We were a game behind coming in and now a game ahead and if we tie, we have the tiebreaker."

In the second game, Ramirez cleared the bases on the first pitch she saw to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead. She then recorded two outs in the top of the seventh before getting hit by a line drive and giving way to Jenn Spencer, who threw one pitch for her second save of the homestand and the season.

"Both of our pitchers threw really well for us," Triplett said. "Jenn was good in game one and came in for Reece and finished this one off with one pitch. Reece probably wants the one pitch back where they hit the HR, but she was really good. Probably as good has she has been in a while.

"I was hoping (Ramirez) would just get one to the outfield so we could get at least one on the sacrifice. But she put a good swing on it. We have been struggling with that for a while now, runner on third no outs, one out and not getting that run in. But Reece took it to the wall."

Ramirez went 1 for 3 with three RBIs at the plate and pitched 6.2 innings, allowing three runs on 11 hits to improve to 7-6 on the season.

Brooke Phillips hit a two-run home run, her first of the year, to lead Bemidji. BSU built leads of 1-0 and 3-2 with MSU rallying both times.

Minot State got two hits apiece from Jordan Grant, Jordan Branch and Isis Cabral. Grant scored a run and stole two bases to run her season total to 33. Rachel Burdette drove in a run and went 1 for 3 for MSU.

In game 1, pitching and the top of the order was the key for Minot State.

Spencer worked a complete game, eight-hitter, allowing just two runs to improve to 10-8. Spencer struck out seven batters and walked just one in a solid outing. She outdueled BSU ace Jessica Yost who went six innings, giving up four runs with two earned and eight hits, striking out 11 MSU batters but fell to 17-5 on the year.

"We knew we would see Yost in the first game and she's one of the best pitchers in the league," Triplett said. "We got the early lead on her and that was good. We felt pretty good about that one, but maybe started to sleep walk a little. We rebounded and got some big hits."

The top of the order of Grant and Lauren Cowden did most of the damage. Grant set the table, going 2 for 4 with three runs scored and two stolen bases and Cowden knocked her in twice, going 4 for 4 with two RBIs. Ashley Hill went 1 for 3 in the game and finished with an RBI.

Minot State will start a six-game road swing with its longest trip of the season traveling to Upper Iowa and Winona State Saturday and 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.