MINOT, N.D. -- The Minot State University softball team never trailed as it swept the Wayne State College Wildcats by scores of 8-1 and 13-3 on Senior Day at the Air-Supported Dome.
The Beavers honored graduating seniors Haley Hernandez and Julia Suchan in pre-game. MSU will honor the third graduating senior Isis Cabral prior to a doubleheader against Winona State on May 1.
The bats did the leading during both ends of today's doubleheader as the Beavers recorded 19 hits and 21 runs.
Suchan drove in three runs with two hits in game one including a double and four runs during her 1-for-1 performance in Game 2 to lead the Beavers.
Maggie Mercer also launched her first home run of the season for the Beavers in the bottom of the 5th in Game 1.
GAME 1 | Minot State 8, Wayne State (NE) 1
Minot State took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and never surrendered the advantage on the way to an 8-1 victory against the Wayne State (NE) Wildcats on Sunday.
Junior Trinity Valentine (8-6) got the win for Minot State. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on four hits, allowing one walk, and striking out five.
Offensively, the Beavers were led by senior Julia Suchan, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a double, a walk, and three RBIs. Sophomore Maggie Mercer furnished a noteworthy performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk, and an RBI. Freshman Lenora Watson also chipped in for Minot State, putting together three hits in three trips to the plate while adding an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Minot State got an RBI single from Suchan, scoring sophomore Jamie Odlum from second base.
The Wildcats failed to push any runs across before the Beavers offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Minot State scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-RBI double from Suchan, which brought the score to 4-0 in favor of the Beavers.
Minot State held Wayne State without a run before building their lead to 5-0 the following inning. The Beavers scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Watson.
The Wildcats fought back, closing the gap to 5-1 until Minot State added some insurance in the fifth. Mercer helped stretch the lead to five runs with a solo shot in the bottom of the 5th, her first of the year, to put the home team up 6-1. Jaycie Rostad singled to drive in a run and put the Beavers up 7-1 through five innings.
The Beavers kept Wayne State off the board before building on their lead to 8-1 the following inning. Suchan came across to score the lone run of the inning for Minot State and get them on the board. The score remained 8-1 for the rest of the game, as the Beavers coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» Watson compiled three hits in the game for Minot State.
» Junior Trinity Valentine struck out five Wildcats hitters.
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the second when it pushed three runs across.
» Minot State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Beavers stole 10 bases as a team.
» Minot State went 6-for-18 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» The Beavers got two hits in four at-bats with the bases loaded.
» Minot State pitchers limited Wayne State to just 1-for-8 (.125) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers faced 27 Wayne State hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and three fly balls while striking out five.
» The Beavers drew five walks from Wayne State pitching.
» Suchan led the Beavers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.
GAME 2 | Minot State 13, Wayne State (NE) 3
Senior Julia Suchan collected four RBIs to help propel the Minot State Beavers past the Wayne State Wildcats 13-3 on Sunday.
Freshman Gabi Dawyduk (3-4) started in the circle and picked up the win for Minot State (14-14, 7-7). The right-hander went four innings, giving up one run on four hits.
Suchan went 1-for-1 with a double and a walk in addition to her four RBIs for the Beavers. Dawyduk compiled a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs. Sophomore Lauryn DeGuzman also helped out for Minot State, putting together one hit in two trips to the plate while adding a double and two RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers got on the scoreboard first, starting in the second inning. Minot State's offense started clicking and put up six runs, including a two-run double off the bat of DeGuzman.
The Beavers then held the Wildcats scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Dawyduk came across to score the lone run of the inning for Minot State, which brought the Beavers to lead to 7-0.
Wayne State narrowed Minot State's lead to 7-1 before the Beavers stretched the advantage to 13-1 in the fourth inning. The Beavers bats heated up in the inning, scoring six runs, including a two-run double off the bat of Suchan. Wayne State put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Minot State still coasted to the 13-3 win.
GAME NOTES
» Suchan drove in four runs for Minot State.
» Every Minot State starter reached base safely in the win.
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the fourth when it pushed six runs across.
» The Beavers had control of the rest of the game after jumping ahead of the Wildcats 6-0 in the bottom of the second.
» The Beavers out-hit the Wildcats at a 10-7 clip.
» Both sophomore Jazmin Karunungan and Dawyduk stole two bases in Sunday's game.
» The Beavers stole nine bases as a team.
» Minot State went 7-for-13 (.538) with runners in scoring position.
» The Beavers got two hits in four at-bats with the bases loaded.
» The Beavers drew 11 walks from Wayne State pitching.
UP NEXT
Next up for Minot State is a matchup on Wednesday, Apr. 21 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. against Northern State at the South Hill Softball Complex.
