MINOT, N.D. --Senior Trinity Valentine was dominant on Friday, fanning eight Mary hitters over seven innings of work to help power the Minot State Beavers past the Marauders, 10-5, in the season opener for both teams and the first game of the Bubble Invite.
In addition to her eight strikeouts, Valentine (1-0) went seven innings, giving up five runs, four earned, on 12 hits and walking three for Minot State (1-0).
In the batter's box, the Beavers were led by senior Jamie Odlum who went 3-for-4 on the day with two triples and two RBIs. Senior Maggie Mercer put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Senior Kiera Shwaluk also chipped in for Minot State, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a double, a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. Minot State scratched across a run off sophomore Nicole Eckhardt when Odlum tripled in junior Jazmin Karununga.
The Marauders then rallied to score two runs and take a 2-1 lead before the Beavers got back on the board in the third. Minot State managed to push across two runs in the inning, which brought the Beavers lead to 3-2.
Minot State's lead had evaporated once the fourth inning came around and turned into a 4-3 Mary advantage, when the Beavers re-took control at 7-4. The Beavers bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a one-run single off the bat of Mercer.
Minot State kept the Marauders without a run before their offense got back in action the next inning. The Beavers sent in a run on Shwaluk's RBI double, bringing the Minot State advantage to 8-4.
Mary got within 8-5 until the Beavers scored again in the sixth inning to stretch its lead to 10-5. Minot State brought home a pair, with one run driven in by senior Alina Gonzalez's single. The score remained 10-5 for the rest of the game, as the Beavers coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» Odlum picked up three hits in the game for Minot State.
» Valentine struck out eight Marauders hitters.
» The Beavers power output was led by Odlum, who picked up two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Minot State's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed four runs across.
» Both Karununga and junior Lenora Watson stole two bases in Friday's game.
» The Beavers stole seven bases as a team.
» Minot State pitchers faced 35 Mary hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and five fly balls while striking out eight.
» Odlum led the Beavers at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two triples and two RBIs.
» Mary was led offensively by senior Haley Berube, who went 2-for-4 with two triples and two RBIs.
» Eckhardt led the Marauders pitching staff, throwing six innings of 10-run ball.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
