ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Minot State University got one big hit, but needed one more.
 
The Beavers left 10 runners on including the bases load twice to fall 5-2 to Wayne State College in the first round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Baseball Tournament Wednesday at Dick Putz Field.
 
"We had guys on base all day today," said MSU head coach Scott Eul. "It was good to put guys on base and battle. We just needed one more to go our way and get over the hump. But it didn't and now we have our work cut out for us. I think we will respond."
 
No. 5 seed Minot State (28-21 overall) fell behind 5-0 as No. 4 seed WSC (29-22) scored two runs in the second and three in the sixth. MSU rallied for two in the seventh, but couldn't finish off the comeback.
 
Along with leaving the bases loaded, MSU hit two balls to the warning track with runners on as a part of the 10 left on base. The final warning track out came in the top of the seventh after MSU cut a 5-0 WSC lead to 5-2 on a big two-out double by Paul Vogelsang. The Beavers forced back-to-back walks following the Vogelsang hit to load the bases. Catcher Jarrod Adams launched a shot to right field that just stayed inside the fence.
 
"We put some good swings on the ball," Eul said. "Jarrod hits that one to the track with the bases loaded, Sal (Celestino Rodriguez) hit one to the track with runners on and Paul hit his off the fence. Offensively, we were right there.
 
Tanner Alexander pitched well enough to win for MSU, going six innings. He allowed seven hits and five runs, striking out two and walking two. He dropped to 6-5 on the season. Dylan Roach allowed just two hits and struck out three in two scoreless relief innings.
 
"He didn't have his best stuff, but he battled and got some big outs along the way," Eul said of Alexander. "He gave us a chance. If we get one of those hits to go our way, he wins the ball game. He gave us a chance and that's all we can ask for.
 
"Roach came in and did a good job. He threw hard and his ball had some movement and we made some nice plays behind him."
 
Taner Ledezma improved to 5-2 for WSC and Kyle Kennebeck worked 1.1 innings to record his 10th save, a school record. Ledezma pitched 6.2 innings, allowing seven hit and two runs. Tanner Simons went 4 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored and Bodie Cooper had the big hit for the Wildcats as he pushed their lead to 5-0 with a two-run home run in the sixth.
 
The game marked the first NSIC tournament game for the Beavers and MSU picked up a couple milestones. Along with Vogelsang earning the first NCAA DII postseason RBI in school history, Rodriguez's single up the middle in the second goes down as the first hit and Kyle Williamson will scored the first postseason run.
 
While MSU made its debut in the tournament, Eul didn't think it affected his team.
 
"I'm sure the first time through the order there were some nerves," he said. "I'm sure there were for Wayne and for the guys on Mankato's (Minnesota State) team. I think we handled that aspect really well. We celebrated and then got over the whole 'we made it' deal a couple days ago and were ready to play."
 
MSU will look to extend its season at least one more game as the Beavers play Minnesota Crookston in a loser out game Thursday 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.