MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State baseball team begins the 2022 season with back-to-back games at Metropolitan State University. The Beavers take on the Roadrunners Saturday Feb. 5 at 11 a.m. (MT) and Sunday Feb. 6 at noon (MT). 
 
The Beavers were picked to finish fourth in the 2022 NSIC in the preseason coaches' poll. Senior Declan Buckle and Senior Jordan Chappell were selected as players to watch for Minot State baseball during the upcoming campaign. After a 2021 NSIC Conference Tournament appearance, Minot State is looking to climb to the top of the conference once again in 2022. 
 
Weekend Matchup 
The Beavers open the season against Metro State, which finished tied for 19th in the nation in the Collegiate Baseball Top 30 in 2021. Minot State meets Metro State for the first time in program history. The Beavers will then face Colorado State University – Pueblo and Regis University to round out the trip to Colorado. 
 
Prominent Pitching 
Left-handed pitcher, Jordan Chappell led the Beavers in 2021 with a 0.69 ERA on the season and recorded 47 strikeouts. Chappell delivered a total of 6.1 postseason innings with seven strikeouts combined between two games, while only allowing three hits and not allowing a run over those two performances. Chappell was selected to the 2021 All-NSIC 2nd Team as well as 2021 ABCA/Rawlings All-Central Region 2nd Team. Junior Dominick Parkhurst tossed 34.1 innings with 39 strikeouts in 2021 for Minot State. After an outstanding season of going 3-0 and posting a 3.93 ERA, Parkhurst returns to add depth to the rotation in the upcoming season. 
  
Bashing Beavers 
The lineup will be led by Senior Declan Buckle, who has a .339 career batting average in 37 games over the course of two seasons at Minot State. Buckle has also driven in 24 runs and stolen 11 bases for the Beavers. Outfielder Jordan Williams returns for senior season after hitting .305 and racking up 35 RBIs in the 2021 season. Williams led the team with eight home runs and 39 hits last season.