MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Senior Kyla Larson went 4-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs and Laura Mendez pitched a complete game and registered a season-high seven strikeouts leading Minot State to a 7-3 victory over Minnesota State Moorhead in game one of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader on Thursday at Scheels Field. The Dragons bounced back to win game two 6-2 to earn a split of the two games.

Larson had a double, a homer and scored a run to back the pitching of Mendez who went 7.0 innings and allowed six hits and two earned runs while striking out seven to improve to 9-9 on the season.

After Minnesota State Moorhead jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the second inning, the Beavers responded with three runs.

With two outs, Lauren Cowden drew a walk, stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Dragons catcher. Julia Suchan and Tori Zimmermann followed with walks and Larson singled to centerfield to bring home Cowden and Suchan to put the Beavers in front 2-1.

Isis Cabral upped the lead to 3-1 when she singled to rightfield, which allowed Zimmermann to cross the plate.

The Dragons tied the score in the fourth inning when Emma Dummer homered to left after Becky Berth had walked.

The Beavers, who are 20-15 overall and 7-7 in conference play, regained the lead for good in the top of the fifth inning.

Suchan and Zimmermann singled to start the inning and Larson loaded the bases when she reached on a bunt single. With one down, Ashley Hill lined a single to right bringing home both Suchan and Zimmermann giving the Beavers a 5-3 lead.

Larson upped the Minot State lead to 6-3 in the top of the seventh inning when she blasted her fifth homer of the season and the Beavers tacked on another run when Haley Hernandez lifted a sacrifice fly to center bringing home Cabral.

Aunica Novacek powered the Dragons (10-18, 3-7 NSIC) to a 6-2 win in game two as she delivered a pair of home runs, including a go-ahead grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Minot State took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning of game two when Suchan hit a two-run single that scored Camille Greene and Skyla Neubauer.

The Dragons cut the lead in half on a sacrifice fly by Ashley McCance and tied the score at 2-2 in the fifth inning when Novacek homered.

Minnesota State Moorhead broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth inning when Novacek hit a grand slam giving the Dragons a 6-2 advantage.

Suchan and Neubauer each had two hits to lead the Beavers, while Larson and Greene tallied one hit each. Kylie Patrick worked all six innings and allowed just two earned runs while striking out two batters.

Minot State resumes play on Tuesday (April 17) when it visits Bemidji State for a NSIC doubleheader.