MINOT, N.D. -- Freshman
Haley Hernandez hit a tie-breaking three-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning and Minot State went on to a 6-3 victory over 16th-ranked Augustana to earn a split of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader on Saturday in the Air-Supported Dome at Herb Parker Stadium.
Minot State, which improved to 18-13 overall and 5-5 in the NSIC, entered the bottom of the fifth inning trailing 2-1.
Skyla Neubauer got things started for the Beavers with a leadoff single and advanced to second when she beat the throw as
Lauren Cowden reached on a fielder's choice.
Julia Suchan laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners up a base and
Tori Zimmermann walked on five pitches to load the bases.
Isis Cabral forced home the tying run when she also drew a free pass, which scored Neubauer to knot the game at 2-2.
Hernandez fouled off the first pitch she saw then rifled a double to right-centerfield which cleared the bases and put the Beavers in front 5-2.
Following a pitching change,
Ashley Hill laced a double to left-centerfield scoring Hernandez and upping the Minot State lead to 6-2.
Augustana, which dropped to 26-8 overall and 8-2 in conference play, scored a run in the top of the sixth inning and had the tying run at the plate, but Minot State starter
Kylie Patrick struck out pinch-hitter Christina Delzer looking to end the threat.
Patrick, who improved to 11-5 on the season with the win, worked a perfect seventh inning to close out the game.
Hernandez, Cabral and Hill each recorded two hits in the second game, while Neubauer also had a single for the Beavers.
Augustana won the opener of the doubleheader 4-0 behind the pitching of Ashley Mickschl who tossed a five-hit shutout.
Cowden and Zimmermann led Minot State with two hits in game one, while Suchan picked up the Beavers other hit on the day.
Laura Mendez absorbed the loss in the first game despite allowing only two earned runs and striking out two batters.
Minot State will conclude the week by hosting Wayne State in a NSIC doubleheader on Sunday (April 8) in the Air-Supported Dome. The Beavers and Wildcats are scheduled for a noon start to the doubleheader.
