WAYNE, Neb. – The Minot State baseball team scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to win 6-5 in the second game of a doubleheader at Wayne State, extending their winning streak to seven games.
The Beavers edged Wayne State 3-2 in the first game of the afternoon at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex.
Minot State improved to 12-10 on the season and 10-2 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play while the Wildcats dropped to 8-12 overall and 6-4 in the NSIC.
Game One
Wayne State scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning off an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead over the Beavers.
Minot State answered in the next half inning when
Celestino Rodriguez singled through the left side to score
Kyle Williamson.
Darrel Doll led off the fourth inning with a walk before back-to-back errors by Wayne State advanced him to third. Doll scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch to give Minot State a 2-1 lead.
The Beavers added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Rodriguez reached base on a Wildcat fielding error before being pinch ran by
Justin Demary. Demary reached third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch in the inning to give Minot State a 3-1 lead after six innings.
Wayne State cut into the Beaver lead in the top of the seventh off an RBI single, cutting Minot State's lead to 3-2.
Jack Gamba replaced starter
Andres Hackman with two outs and runners on first and third. The Vallejo, Calif. native retired the lone batter he faced to earn his first save of the season.
Hackman improved to 3-3 on the season after surrendering two runs on seven this and striking out six batters in 6.2 innings of work.
As a team, the Beaver totaled three hits at the plate.
Michael Borst,
Trevaun Smith and Rodriguez recorded one hit apiece while Rodriguez tallied the lone RBI for the Beavers.
Game Two
The Wildcats led off the second game by scoring two runs on three hits in the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead.
Minot State cut into the WSC lead in the third inning when an RBI groundout from Borst scored
Geordie McDougall.
Wayne State extended their lead to four runs when David Janes notched a two RBI single down the right field line before stealing home to take a 5-1 lead over the Beavers.
Doll started the eighth inning rally with a walk before Rodriguez reached on an infield single. Demary followed with an RBI single to center field, scoring Doll.
Logan Morse drew a walk to load the bases before Williamson smacked a three RBI double down the right field line to tie the game at five. Williamson scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch to score Minot State's sixth run of the game.
Brock Breshears retired all three Wildcat batters in the top of the ninth inning to record his second save of the season.
Aaron Kern earned his first win of the season while throwing two innings of one-hit relief and striking out three batters.
O'Rourke lasted 4.2 innings on the mound while surrendering five runs, three earned, on five hits and striking out five batters.
The Beaver offense combined for eight hits in the 6-5 victory. Rodriguez led Minot State at the plate by going 3-for-4 while five other Beavers recorded one hit in the win.
Williamson posted a team-high three RBIs while Borst and Demary added an RBI each.
The Beavers and Wildcats wrap up their four-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at noon.
