MINOT, N.D. – After a week off, the Beaver softball gets back into the swing of things with a familiar foe to open conference play.
With a 19-5 record this spring, the Minot State softball team is off to its best start in nearly a decade, matching the start of the 2015 squad and just a few victories behind the efforts of the 2013 team that opened the year 31-5, finished the season 41-11, and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Tournament.
While it might be too early to pack for nationals just yet, a strong foundation for that type of season has been set by the Beavers who open NSIC play this Monday at in-state rival the University of Mary.
Along with one of the best starts ever in program history, the Beavers have a pair of wins over teams ranked in the preseason Top 10 in the nation, beating No. 8 West Chester of Pennsylvania 5-4 in 8 innings, and No. 7 Saint Anslem 3-0.
Balance on both sides of the ball has been key as the Beavers are No. 2 in the NSIC in hitting with a .337 batting average, third in pitching with a 2.06 ERA, and the best fielding team in the league with a .977 fielding percentage and just 15 errors in 24 games.
Oh yeah, then there is Minot State's running game as the Beavers are No. 3 in the nation in stolen bases per game at 3.96 per outing with 95 stolen bases in 24 games this season.
Of course, now the key for Minot State is to continue to dominate in all those areas as conference play begins, starting Monday in Bismarck, N.D., at 2 p.m. with an NSIC-opening doubleheader against the Marauders (2-18).
The two teams met twice already this season, both times in the MSU Bubble, with the Beavers topping Mary 10-5 and 7-3. Minot State hit .364 in those two meetings, stole 14-of-16 bases, committed just one error, and pitchers
Trinity Valentine,
Reegan Floyd, and
Gabi Dawyduk combined to strike out 14 Marauder batters with Valentine and Floyd each getting a win in the circle.
Continuing that play will be a key for the Beavers as they look to remain unbeaten against Mary this season and hope to open NSIC action with a twinbill sweep on the road Monday afternoon.
