BRAINERD, Minn. – Minot State University's up and down week concluded with much of the same as the Beavers split a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games against Minnesota Duluth Sunday at Central Lakes Field.

The games were moved from Duluth to Brainerd and played at Central Lakes due to inclement weather. The Beavers won game 1 11-2 behind another strong pitching performance from Mark LaCroix, but couldn't finish off a sweep, falling 11-4 in the series finale.

"Once again it does down to consistency," said MSU head coach Scott Eul. "When we bring our A game we are tough to beat. But when we don't, we aren't very good.  We need to find a way to be consistent with our game."

In game 1, LaCroix rolled through five innings, giving up just three hits and no runs to improve to 3-1 on the season. By the time he left in the sixth, the Beavers had pushed their lead to 11-0.

"Lacroix was great today again," said Eul. "He isn't really built to be a starter but he competes and just gets the job done. He goes all out for as long as he can and gives a chance to win."

MSU (22-16 overall, 17-13 NSIC) scored early and often as Michael Borst and Paul Vogelsang each drove in runs during a four-run first inning. Borst, who finished the weekend with a total of 53 RBIs to set a school record, knocked in one in the first with a fielder's choice and plated two more in the second inning with a double. Vogelsang drove in two with a single in the first.

"That's really special to set the school record for RBIs," Eul said of Borst. "He still has two more seasons after this to hopefully break this record he set again! He is going to be a special player."

Borst finished 1 for 3 with three RBIs and Jarrod Adams drove in three with two hits. Justin Demary went 3 for 3 with an RBI and three runs scored and Sean Alp went 2 for 4 for MSU.

In game 2, MSU carried a 3-1 lead into the fifth, but gave up six runs in the fifth and two more in each of the sixth and seventh innings as UMD pulled away for the win.

Alp drove in two runs in a three-run third inning for MSU and Adams when 2 for 4 as the only MSU player with more than one hit. Demary drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

The Beavers finished off a six-game road swing Sunday and will begin a six-game homestand, the final six home games of the season, with two midweek games against St. Cloud State Wednesday at Corbett 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.