FAYETTE, Iowa. – Minot State University was one swing away from earning a road sweep, but settled for a split with an extra-inning rally in game 2 at Upper Iowa in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball Saturday at Eischeid Complex.

The Beavers scored five runs and had two on with two outs in the top of the seventh, but couldn't get the equalizer in a 7-6 loss in game 1, but rallied for two runs in the top of the eighth to earn a 4-2 win in game 2.

"We battled hard in game two," said MSU head coach Bill Triplett. "We lost a ball in the sun which gave them a run and their other run came on a passed ball. So, our pitchers really threw well keeping us in the game. It took us eight innings, but we got the split."

The win helped Minot State (20-15 overall, 12-10) stay in sixth place in the NSIC, but are tied with two other teams with just over a week to play in the conference. Upper Iowa (17-27, 9-13) is just outside the top 10 as they are tied with Southwest Minnesota State for 11th. The top 10 qualify for the NSIC tournament.

MSU's Jenn Spencer finished off a solid pitching performance for the Beavers with 2.2 near-perfect innings in relief. She gave up just one hit and struck out three to earn the win, coming in for starter Clarissa Ramirez in the sixth. Ramirez allowed just eight hits and two runs while striking out three in a no-decision.

"Ramirez and Spencer both had their A game going in game 2," Triplett said.

After Upper Iowa tied the game at two in the sixth, MSU got two in the top of the eighth for the win. Lauren Cowden drove in a run with a bases loaded fielder choice and Rachel Burdette added some insurance with a RBI single one batter later.

"Grant (Jordan Grant) had another good day," said Triplett. "Cowden, Cabral (Isis Cabral), Branch (Jordan Branch) and Burdette had some great at bats for us today."

Grant, Cowden, Burdette and Branch all finished with two hits. Grant stole her 34 th base on the year, while Cowden drove in two runs

Spencer, who improved to 12-8 on the season, allowed two base runners in the bottom of the eight before shutting the door, getting two of her three strikeouts in the final three at bats.

In game 1, Upper Iowa built a 7-1 lead before the Beaver roared back in the seventh. MSU opened the inning with two hits and a walk to load the bases with no outs. Branch forced in the first run with a bases loaded walk and Skyla Neubauer forced one in after getting hit by a pitch. Kassidy Millen singled in Ramirez and Grant walked to get to 7-5. After the Peacocks got an out, Burdette drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to cut it to one, but MSU couldn't get the equalizer.

"We had a big comeback in the seventh of the first one, but came up one big hit short," Triplett said.

Cowden picked up three hits, while Grant and Cabral finished with two hits apiece.

The Beavers will continue a road trip with a pair of NSIC games at Winona State Sunday starting at 12 p.m.

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.