MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University gave up 10 home runs in two games to No. 21 ranked Minnesota State as the Mavericks swept the Beavers in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference baseball Sunday at Corbett Field.

The Beavers gave up six home runs in game 1, falling 13-1 and then allowed four more – all solo shots – in game 2 to drop a 5-2 decision.

In game 2, the loss spoiled a fine outing for Tanner Alexander. Alexander, who worked 1.2 innings in Minot State's win in game 1 Saturday to earn a save, went the distance Sunday, giving up five runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts.

"We needed a guy to step up and keep us in the ballgame and Tanner did that," said MSU head coach Scott Eul. "He competed. That's a really good ball club he threw against. We just couldn't get going offensively. The hits will come, we have a good offense. We need to come out with some energy this week against Northern (Northern State Tuesday)."

The Beavers (15-11 overall, 10-8 NSIC) had plenty of opportunities to give Alexander the run support he needed, but couldn't get a key hit. MSU left 13 runners on base in game 2, generating nine hits and drawing five hit-by-pitch.

Minot State jumped out to a 1-0 lead as Justin Demary singled home Sean Alp who had reached on an error. After the Mavericks took a 2-1 lead on back-to-back home runs in the top of the second, the Beavers got a long ball of their own to tie the game at 2. Wyatt Schlosser swatted his first homer of the season as a part of a 2-for-4 day.

Minnesota State (24-5, 19-1) tacked on single runs in the sixth, seventh and ninth innings to pull away. The combination of Quinn Ahern and Aaron Rozek outdueled Alexander as Ahern went five innings giving up six hits and two runs for the win and Rozek scattered three hits over four innings of relief to earn the save.

Demary and Kyle Williamson joined Schlosser with two hits for the Beavers. Schlosser added a double to his home run and Trevaun Smith finished with a double as well.

In game 1, it was all Minnesota State right from the start. The Mavericks scored three in the first, two in the second and two more in the third to build a 7-0 lead. Josh Wenzel had a career day going 4 for 5 with four home runs and eight runs batted in.

MSU finally go on the board in the seventh as Paul Vogelsang hit his third home run of the season. Vogelsang was the only MSU player with a multi-hit game, finishing 2 for 3 with an RBI. Schlosser went 1 for 3 with a double in the loss.

Kendal Daniels gave up 15 hits and 13 runs in 4.2 innings pitched to finish with the loss. Joshua Marson scattered two hits in 2.1 shutout innings in relief. Minnesota State's Ricky Digrugilier went the distance giving up just six hits and one run to improve to 4-0 on the season.

Minot State continues a 10-game homestand with a pair of NSIC games against Northern State Tuesday starting at Noon 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.