KEARNEY, Neb. – The Minot State baseball team opened their four-game series at Nebraska-Kearney on Friday afternoon, falling 7-5 at Memorial Field. The Beavers are now 2-5 on the season, while the Lopers improve to 7-10.
Reilly O'Rourke (0-1) took the loss, surrendering six runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five in 5.1 innings of work.
Darrel Doll led off the scoring with a two-run home run to left center, giving the Beavers a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
The Lopers trimmed the two-run lead down to one when Will Olson hit an RBI double to right center in the bottom of the second inning.
Minot State broke the game open in the top of the fifth inning, scoring three runs on two hits and two UNK errors.
Michael Borst doubled to right center, scoring
Kyle Williamson after reaching on a UNK error.
Following a walk issued to Doll,
Celestino Rodriguez reached on a UNK error, allowing Doll to advance to second and Borst to score.
Zack Kunkel gave Minot State their biggest lead of the day with an RBI single to right field, scoring Doll and extending Minot State's lead to 5-1.
The Lopers answered in the bottom of the fifth inning when Alex Achtermann doubled to left field, cutting Minot State's lead in half at 5-3.
UNK took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Brett Young hit a three-run home run to left field off O'Rourke. The Lopers added to their lead in the seventh inning when Ty Roseberry hit a solo home run to left field off
Brock Breshears.
Minot State scored five runs on 10 hits while Nebraska-Kearney scored seven runs on seven hits and committed three errors.
Doll led the Beavers at the plate with a home run and two RBIs.
Dustin Wilcox and Kunkel also added two hits apiece while six other Beavers recorded one hit.
Brock Breshears pitched 2.2 innings of relief on the mound while striking out three batters and giving up one run on one hit.
The Beavers and Lopers face off tomorrow in a doubleheader starting at noon. Links to live stream and stats are available on msubeavers.com.
