WINONA, Minn. – Minot State University ran into a buzz saw of Winona State pitching, getting shutout twice by the Warriors in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball Sunday at Alumni Field.

The Beavers (20-17 overall, 12-12 NSIC) outhit WSU in game 1, but couldn't push across a run, falling 3-0. In game 1, WSU tossed a two-hitter and outscored MSU 8-0 in five innings.

"We battled hard in game 1 and actually outhit them, but couldn't push a run across," said MSU head coach Bill Triplett. "We had our chances. In game 2, we ran into a really good pitcher."

In game 1, MSU had runners on in every inning after the second inning and got two hits in the fifth, but couldn't get the big hit. MSU finished with six hits compared to just five for Winona State (39-9, 20-3).

Rachel Burdette went 2 for 3 for the Beavers and Jordan Grant finished 1 for 2.

In the circle, MSU's Jenn Spencer pitched a solid game, going five innings allowing five hits and three runs, while striking out for, but dropped to 11-9 on the season. WSU's McKenna Larsen scattered six hits for a complete-game shutout to improve to 19-4.

In game 2, the Beavers put two on in the first inning as Grant and Skyla Neubauer both singled, but the Beavers didn't muster another hit in the game against Jordyn Kleman. Kleman struck out 13 MSU batters in five innings to improve to 15-5.

"Grant and Neubauer got hits in the first and that was it for us," Triplett said. "From that point on, our defense let us down and we couldn't solve their pitcher. We have to put this one behind us and come out Wednesday (at Northern State) and play a lot better."

MSU's Clarissa Ramirez pitched 2.1 innings allowing five hits and four runs although just one was earned to fall to 7-7 on the season.

The Beavers travel to Northern State for a key midweek matchup Wednesday starting at 2 and 4 p.m. in Aberdeen, S.D.

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.