MINOT, N.D. – Minot State baseball hosted rival UMary for a mid-week doubleheader earlier today. The Beavers and Marauders split the day's games with contradicting styles.
 
UMary prevailed in a defensive affair in Game 1 led by solid pitching and defense. The Beavers then bounced back to defeat UMary in a shortened contest due to the mercy rule in Game 2.
 
GAME 1
It was a close one in Game 1 on Wednesday, as Minot State was unable to push that tying run across, and came up one run short of victory, falling to Mary 3-2.
 
Senior Aaron Kern (0-1) took the loss on the mound for Minot State. Junior Zach Newman started the ballgame and went 4.1 innings, surrendering two runs, both earned, on five hits, walking none and striking out four.
 
In the batter's box, the Beavers were paced by junior Drew Behling, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a double. Freshman Matt Malone compiled a standout performance at the dish as well, going 2-for-3. Senior Ryley Humrighouse also contributed for Minot State, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers were trailing 1-0 in the third inning when they first put runs on the board. Malone came across to score the lone run of the inning for Minot State and get them on the board.
 
The Marauders broke the tie and re-took the lead heading into the fifth inning when the Beavers got back on the scoreboard. Minot State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of freshman Kellen Peat, which brought the score level at 2-2. Mary then scored one time over the remaining two innings to break the tie and grab the 3-2 win.
 
GAME FACTS
» Minot State pitchers limited Mary to just 1-for-10 (.100) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers faced 32 Mary hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out nine.
» Behling led the Beavers at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a double.
» Mary was led offensively by freshman Calvin James, who went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, and an RBI.
» Sophomore Jonathan Draheim led the Marauders pitching staff, throwing seven innings of two-run ball.
 
GAME 2
Four Minot State players collected multiple hits to help lead the Beavers over Mary 12-2 Wednesday.
 
Sophomore Garrett Nicholson (1-1) got the win out of the bullpen for Minot State. The right-hander went two shutout innings without giving up a hit, one walk, and striking out two. Freshman Craig Schmich also pitched well, going one shutout inning while allowing one hit, walking none, and striking out two.
 
Senior Ryley Humrighouse led the hit barrage for the Beavers, going 3-for-4 in the ballgame with four RBIs. Freshman Matt Malone put together a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with a triple, a walk, and two RBIs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the second inning. Minot State got an RBI single from sophomore Dillon Buckmeier, scoring sophomore Kaiden Cardoso from second base.
 
The Beavers lost the lead they built in the second but got back on the board in the fifth trailing 2-1. The Minot State offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a two-run error off the bat of Cardoso, which brought the score to 5-2 in favor of the Beavers.
 
Minot State held Mary without a run before expanding their lead to 11-2 the following inning.   The Beavers bats heated up in the inning, scoring six runs, including a two-run single off the bat of Malone and a two-run single from senior Nolan Monthei.
 
Minot State held the Marauders scoreless before their offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. The Beavers scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Humrighouse, bringing the score to 12-2 in favor of Minot State. The score remained 12-2 for the rest of the game, as the Beavers coasted to the win.
 
GAME FACTS
» Every Minot State starter reached base safely in the win.
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed six runs across.
» Four Beavers had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Beavers out-hit the Marauders at a 13-9 clip.
» Both Humrighouse and Monthei stole two bases in Wednesday's second game.
» The Beavers swiped seven bases as a team.
» Minot State went 8-for-16 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» The Beavers got three hits in five at-bats with the bases loaded.
» Minot State pitchers faced 31 Mary hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and five fly balls while striking out five.
» The Beavers drew six walks from Mary pitching.
» Humrighouse led the Beavers at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs.
» Mary was led offensively by freshman Calvin James, who went 2-for-3 with a double.
 
The Beavers will be back in action at Corbett Field this weekend when the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs come to town. Minot State and SMSU will face off for a three-game series starting on Saturday, April 24 at 1:30 p.m.