BEMIDJI, Minn. – Minot State University continued to play solid baseball, splitting a pair of games at Bemidji State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference baseball Wednesday at the BSU Baseball Field.

The 5-2 win in game 1 saw MSU push its win streak to five games only to have it snapped in game 2, dropping a 5-4 decision. The split, however, kept Minot State in fourth place overall in the Northern Sun heading into a weekend series at sixth place Minnesota Duluth.

In game 1, Minot State (21-13 overall, 16-10 NSIC) handed the ball to emerging ace Tanner Alexander and the senior lefty didn't disappoint. Alexander rolled to a six-hitter in a complete-game win, allowing just two runs with one earned run. He struck out nine and walked just one batter to improve to 5-2.

"I feel like a broken record but Tanner went out there and competed again," said MSU head coach Scott Eul. "He didn't have his best stuff but battled and gave us a chance."

Minot State trailed 1-0 after BSU scored a third-inning run, but quickly tied the game with a solo home run from Jordan Schulz in the fourth. Schulz, who went 2 for 4 on the day with two RBIs and two runs scored, hit his third home run of the season.

"Schulz has been pretty solid all year for us but he has been swinging real well again last couple weeks," Eul said. "It's fun to see him in a groove because he makes it look so easy."

MSU took the lead for good in the sixth as Schulz doubled home Kyle Williamson, Michael Borst drove in Sean Alp with a sacrifice fly and Wyatt Schlosser smacked his second home run to drive in two during a four-run inning.

Borst's RBI tied him for the single-season record for RBIs in a season with 50. He ties current teammate Celestino Rodriguez, who set the mark last season as a freshman.

In game 2, MSU rallied from a 4-1 deficit after four innings to tie the game in the sixth, but gave up the eventual game winner in the bottom of the eighth.

Bemidji State (13-23, 10-14) scored the go-ahead run on an error as MSU reliever Mark LaCroix was saddled with the loss despite giving up one hit and one unearned run in one inning. He relieved starter Justin Demary, who pitched well enough to win going seven innings, allowing eight hits and four runs.

"Defensively we were a little bit lazy all day," said Eul. "We played tentatively and on our heels.  We need to be cleaner defensively if we want to keep winning close ball games."

Minot State lost game 2 despite outhitting BSU 14-9. MSU won game 1, but was outhit 6-5.

Schulz went 3 for 5 at the place, while Jarrod Adams, Geordie McDougall and Trevaun Smith – MSU's 7-8-9 hitters – all finished with two hits apiece.

Minot State takes on UMD in Duluth Saturday and Sunday with games starting at 12 and 2:30 p.m. both days.

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.