MINOT, N.D. – Jaymon Cervantes tossed a complete-game two-hitter in an 8-1 victory over Sioux Falls in game one, and Minot State slugged four home runs in a 16-7 win in game two to clinch the Sunday sweep over the Cougars in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader at Corbett Field.

Minot State improved to 23-12 overall and 21-4 in the NSIC while USF dropped to 12-24 (12-14).

Game One

Justin Demary opened the scoring in the first game with a solo home run down the left field line in the top of the second inning to give Minot State a 1-0 lead.

The Beavers erupted for six runs on four hits in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 7-0 over the Cougars.

Wyatt Schlosser and Demary led off the fourth with back-to-back walks before Schlosser scored on an RBI single from Dustin Wilcox. Demary later scored on a passed ball before Wilcox came home on an RBI single to center by Michael Borst.

The Beavers add three more runs in the inning off a 2 RBI single from Celestino Rodriguez and an RBI single by Schlosser.

After giving up a single in the first inning, Cervantes retired 11 USF batters before giving up his only other hit of the game, a solo home run by Conner Merriam.

Minot State got the run back in the top of the seventh inning when Trevaun Smith scored on a USF fielding error to clinch an 8-1 victory in the first game of the doubleheader.

Cervantes struck out eight batters and walked three batters while improving to 4-0 on the season in the complete-game performance.

Borst and Wilcox led Minot State with two hits each, and five other Beavers recorded a hit while Rodriguez notched a team-high two RBIs.

Game Two

Minot State carried the momentum into the second game, taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning off back-to-back bases loaded walks in the top of the second inning.

USF responded in the bottom half of the inning with three runs on one hit and a Minot State error to take a 3-2 lead over the Beavers.

The lead didn't last long as Rodriguez ripped a double to right field and Darrel Doll reached base on walk before Demary belted a three-run home run to left field in the third inning, giving the Beavers their second lead of the game at 5-3.

Minot State tacked on three more runs in the next inning when Rodriguez launched a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence, scoring Smith and Borst and stretching the lead to 8-3 over the Cougars.

The Cougars reeled off three runs on three hits to trim the Minot State advantage to 8-6 in the fourth inning.

Kyle Williamson doubled to right field to reach base in the fifth inning, followed by a two-run home run by Smith over the fence in left field, doubling Minot State's lead to 10-6.

Rodriguez smacked his second home run of the game in the eighth inning before Minot State added four runs in the ninth inning to earn a 16-7 win in the series finale.

Rodriguez went 4-of-6 at the plate with two home runs and seven RBIs to lead Minot State. The seven RBIs are the second-most by a Beaver in a single-game in the Division II era.

Smith hit 3-of-5 with four RBIs while Demary added three RBIs on two hits. Doll recorded three hits while Borst and Williamson also added two hits apiece.

Starter Reilly O'Rourke lasted 3.1 innings while striking out four batters and giving up six runs on three hits.

Tannar Galey earned the victory and improved to 3-0 on the season while pitching 2.2 innings and yielding two hits.

Aaron Kern, Wyatt Moore and Jack Gamba each pitched one inning and combined to hold Sioux Falls to one hit in the final three innings.

Minot State returns to action in a doubleheader at St. Cloud State on Wednesday, April 25 in St. Cloud, Minn. Links to live stats and video are available on msubeavers.com.