MINOT, N.D. – Minot State baseball squared off against St. Cloud State in a pivotal mid-week series.
 
The Beavers and Huskies split Wednesday's games with likely postseason implications. Both contests were tightly played with the first ending with an MSU walk-off and the second bringing out some chippy competition down the stretch.
 
GAME 1
Minot State needed eight innings to get the job done, but pulled off the 7-6 extra-innings win, walking it off with junior Jordan Williams at the plate to claim victory over St. Cloud State Wednesday.
 
Freshman Cameron Bagshaw (2-1) got the win out of the bullpen for Minot State. The right-hander went 0.2 shutout innings without giving up a hit. Freshman Trevyn Badger also pitched well, going one shutout inning without allowing a hit, walking none, and striking out one.
 
At the plate, the Beavers were led by sophomore Kaiden Cardoso, who went 2-for-2 on the day with two home runs, two walks, and five RBIs. Senior Nolan Monthei put together a solid performance at the dish as well, going 3-for-4 with a double. Sophomore Jake Collins also contributed for Minot State, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a walk and an RBI.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers got the scoring started early, putting three runs on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless.  Minot State scored three times, all of them coming across on a three-run homer off the bat of Cardoso.
 
The Beavers lost the lead they built in the first but got back on the board in the sixth trailing 6-3. Minot State scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-run homer from Cardoso, which evened the score at 6-6.
 
The game remained tied until the bottom of the eighth when Minot State walked it off with a Kellen Peat score.
 
GAME FACTS
» Monthei compiled three base hits in the game for Minot State.
» Junior Noah Myhre struck out five Huskies hitters.
» The Beavers power output was led by Cardoso, who had two extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Cardoso drove in five runs for Minot State.
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the sixth when it pushed three runs across.
» Minot State went 3-for-6 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers faced 36 Saint Cloud State hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and five fly balls while striking out 10.
» Cardoso led the Beavers at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two home runs and five RBIs.
» Saint Cloud State was led offensively by senior Matt Quade, who went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.
 
GAME 2
Minot State struggled during the second game of the day, falling to Saint Cloud State by final score of 7-3.
 
Junior Zach Newman (2-4) started and took the loss on the mound for Minot State. Senior Aaron Kern was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going one shutout inning while allowing one hit, walking one, and striking out two.
 
Sophomore Jake Collins led the way offensively for the Beavers, going 1-for-3 in the ballgame with a home run and an RBI. Junior Jordan Williams got going offensively again as he went 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI. Freshman Matt Malone also contributed, going 1-for-2 for Minot State with two walks.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers were trailing 6-0 in the fourth inning when they first put runs on the board. Minot State scored three runs, including one driven in on a home run by Collins. The Beavers were unable to get any closer, as St. Cloud State added one run to their tally on the way to a 7-3 final.
 
GAME FACTS
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the fourth when it pushed three runs across.
» Minot State pitchers faced 39 St. Cloud State hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out three.
» Collins led the Beavers at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
» St. Cloud State was led offensively by junior Paul Steffensen, who went 2-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs.
» Junior Fabian Villegas led the Huskies pitching staff, throwing 3.1 scoreless innings.
 
Minot State will be back in action when they start a five-game road trip at Minnesota Duluth. The Beavers and UMD will start a three-game weekend set this Saturday, May 1 at 1:30 p.m.