ST. CLOUD, MINN. – The Minot State (7-3) softball team squared off against the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs (6-3) in a non-conference, neutral-site double header tonight in St. Cloud.
The Mustangs swept both games taking the first game by a score of 5-1 in the earlier contest and 7-6 in the nightcap.
Game 1
Trinity Valentine (4-2) got the start in Game 1 for Minot State. Valentine allowed a total of six hits, three runs, and three walks while picking up the loss. She also struck out three opposing batters.
Roxanne Ines came on in relief and tossed 3.1 innings as well. Ines recorded two K's while allowing three hits and two runs.
Offensively, Minot State started the night hot with a
Lenora Watson single that plated
Alina Gonzalez. The second-inning score ended up being the only output from the Beaver bats on the evening.
Southwest Minnesota State rallied back in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead on a two-RBI single and productive fielder's choice.
The Mustangs eventually put up a run in both the fifth and sixth frames to reach the final margin of 5-1.
Megan Cull (3-3) went wire-to-wire and collected her third win of the year in the circle for SMSU.
Beaver Leaders
Alina Gonzalez 2-3, R,
Lenora Watson 1-2, RBI
Game 2
Things were looking up for Minot State in the second game of the night.
Isis Cabral and
Julia Suchan started the scoring in the first inning with a single and a double, respectively. Minot State put another run up in the third after another Cabral base knock, but the lead did not last long.
The Mustangs did more damage with a deficit and erased MSU's advantage with two singles and a double. SMSU led after three.
Minot State knotted the game at four with a double off the bat of
Brooklyn Morrison and took the lead in the sixth with another two-bagger, this time from
Zoya Robbins.
Heading into the final stanza, Minot State held a 6-4 lead, but the Mustangs did what they do best and rallied to walk-the Beavers off on a three-RBI triple by Lileya Kebos. SMSU enjoyed the thrilling victory with a final score of 7-6.
Robbins started the second game for Minot State and tossed 5.2 innings with one strikeout and four runs allowed but did not earn a decision.
Gabi Dawyduk (1-1) only pitched one-third of an inning, the final inning, but garnered the loss.
Megan Cull got her second win of the day in a one-inning relief appearance.
Beaver Leaders
Isis Cabral 3-4, 2RBI, 2SB
Julia Suchan 2-4, RBI, R, SB
Brooklyn Morrison 2-3, RBI, R
Taryn Bennett 1-2, 2R
Zoya Robbins 1-3, 2RBI
Maggie Mercer 1-3, R, BB, SB
Minot State will be back in action tomorrow evening when they play the hosts St. Cloud State at 5 and 7 p.m.
