ST. CLOUD, MINN. – The Minot State (7-5) softball team lost their third and fourth-consecutive games earlier today with a pair of losses to St. Cloud State (8-0). The Huskies outlasted MSU in the first game of the day with a 4-3 triumph in 10 innings and outscored the Beavers 7-4 in the second game.
 
Game 1
Both teams started quickly in the first inning with a run each. MSU got on the board after Isis Cabral singled in Jamie Odlum. SCSU retaliated with a Jasmin Estrada single that plated Raven Vanden Langenberg.
 
St. Cloud earned a slight advantage in the second frame after Brooke Bowlin scored on an error.
 
The Beavers did not go away, however, and tied the game in the fourth on an error that brought Lauryn DeGuzman home. In the next inning, Minot State recaptured the lead at 3-2 when Cabral singled again to drive in Brooklyn Morrison.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, MSU hurler Trinity Valentine delivered a wild pitch that allowed Cassie Francesconi to score and even the tally.
 
Both teams traded blows for five more innings but neither broke through until the home half of the 10^th-inning when Holly Weinberger skied a sac fly to right field that provided the game-winning run by Lydia Krueger.
 
The first game of the day was also the second-straight game in which Minot State lost in walk-off fashion.
 
Valentine picked up the loss for the Beavers and is now 4-3 on the season. Valentine threw all 9.1 innings for MSU and recorded three strikeouts, four walks, allowed 10 hits, and four runs. Lauren Kirchberg came on in relief and was rewarded with her third win of the season to remain undefeated in the circle.
 
Beaver Leaders
Jamie Odlum 4-5, R
Isis Cabral 2-4, 2RBI
Lauryn DeGuzman 1-4, R
 
Game 2
The second game of the day got off to another exciting start with five total runs scored in the first inning. Zoya Robbins smacked a two-run shot over the fence to put the Beavers on top early.
 
SCSU countered in their half of the frame, though, and took the lead themselves after two RBI singles, a heady baserunning play.
 
Once the Huskies got in front, they didn't look back. Over the next three frames, St. Cloud State scored five more runs to extend their advantage to 7-2.
 
Minot State saw the beginnings of a late-inning rally when Julia Suchan hit a two-run homer in the sixth to cut the margin in half. The Huskies' lead was just too much, though, and SCSU held on to sweep the day.
 
Zoya Robbins started for MSU and earned the loss. She is now 1-1 for the year. Robbins threw just 1.2 innings and allowed seven hits, five runs, three walks, and struck out just one opposing batter.
 
Gabi Dawyduk and Roxanne Ines both saw relief action for the Beavers. They pitched a combined 4.1 innings and, together, allowed six more hits, two runs, and recorded one strikeout each.
 
St. Cloud State also featured three pitchers in the second game but the win went to their starter, Kylie Thomsen, who delivered five complete frames while striking out two MSU hitters, allowing five hits, four runs, and no walks. Lauren Kirchberg came on in relief again to earn her first save of the season.
 
Beaver Leaders
Jamie Odlum 2-4, 2R
Julia Suchan 1-3, 2RBI, R
Zoya Robbins 1-1, HR, R, 2RBI
 
The Beavers will be back home for their next appearance on the diamond when they host Minnesota Duluth on Thursday, Mar. 18. The Beavers and Bulldogs will square off in a double-header with games starting at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.