WAYNE, Neb. – The Beavers blasted seven home runs on the day, including three by Javier Gutierrez, but had to settle for a split with host Wayne State in an NSIC baseball doubleheader.
Gutierrez hit two of Minot State's three home runs in an 11-7 win to start the day, then added another in as 13-12 loss in 10 innings to close the twinbill.
Minot State (19-11 overall, 10-8 NSIC) now heads home to make its long-awaited home debut at Corbett Field as the Beavers host Northern State on Saturday at noon in a doubleheader.
GAME 1 | Minot State 11, Wayne State 7
WAYNE, Neb. -- Junior Javier Gutierrez put together a stellar performance at the plate Wednesday, hitting two home runs to help propel the Minot State Beavers past the Wayne State Wildcats 11-7.
Senior Garrett Nicholson (2-1) got the win out of the bullpen for Minot State. The southpaw went two innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on four hits, allowing no walks and striking out four.
Gutierrez went 2-for-4 at the plate, supplementing his two home runs with two RBIs. Junior Gunnar Kozlowitz added to Gutierrez's awesome power-hitting performance by going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI along with one walk. Senior Carter Paine also chipped in for the Beavers, going 2-for-2 with a triple and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers got the scoring started early, putting runs on the board in the top of the first inning. Minot State's offense produced a three-run output that included home runs from both Kozlowitz and Gutierrez.
The Wildcats then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 3-2 until the Beavers expanded their advantage in the fourth. The Minot State offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a one-run single off the bat of senior Derek Kay, which brought the score to 7-2 in favor of the Beavers.
Wayne State narrowed Minot State's lead to 7-3 before the Beavers stretched the advantage to 9-3 in the fifth inning. The Beavers picked up a couple on a two-run triple from Paine.
The Wildcats fought back, closing the gap to 9-5 until Minot State added some insurance in the sixth. Senior Matt Malone and senior Tyler Wiltshire each scored a run for the Beavers in the inning, bringing the Minot State advantage to 11-5. Wayne State put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Beavers still coasted to the 11-7 win.
GAME NOTES
» The Beavers got two home runs off the bat of Gutierrez.
» The Beavers power output was led by Gutierrez, who had two extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed four runs across.
» Minot State grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Five Beavers had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Minot State hitters hit three dingers in the ballgame.
» The Beavers out-hit the Wildcats at a 12-9 clip.
» Minot State went 3-for-9 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers faced 34 Wayne State hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and six fly balls while striking out seven.
» Gutierrez led the Beavers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two home runs and two RBI.
» Wayne State was led offensively by freshman Trey Wells, who went 3-for-4 with three home runs and three RBI.
» Junior Logan Walters led the Wildcats pitching staff, throwing one scoreless inning.
GAME 2 | Wayne State 13, Minot State 12, 10 innings
WAYNE, Neb. -- The Minot State Beavers fell 13-12 in a 10-inning matchup to the Wayne State Wildcats on Wednesday.
Junior Austin Loeb (1-2) came out of the bullpen for Minot State and took the loss. Junior Cameron Bagshaw was a bright spot for the Beavers, coming out of the bullpen as well and throwing three innings, giving up one run on one hit, with two walks and three strikeouts.
At the plate, the Beavers were led by senior Matt Malone, who went 3-for-5 on the day with a double, a home run and two RBI. Sophomore Dalin Ludlow compiled a noteworthy effort as well, going 2-for-4 with a home run, two walks and an RBI. Junior Javier Gutierrez also chipped in for Minot State, putting together two hits in five trips to the plate while adding a home run and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers lost despite scoring in six different innings in the ballgame, last holding the lead in the ninth inning at 12-11. Minot State's biggest output came in its three-run second inning. The Beavers scored their three runs on back-to-back homers from Malone and Ludlow.
GAME NOTES
» Malone led the Beavers, picking up three base hits in the ballgame.
» Minot State's power output was led by Malone, who had two extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the second, when it pushed three runs across.
» Five Minot State hitters had multiple base knocks in the ballgame.
» The Beavers took Wayne State pitchers deep four times on Wednesday.
» Minot State batters had a total of 15 hits in the game.
» Ludlow stole two bases in Wednesday's game.
» The Beavers swiped five bases as a team.
» Minot State pitchers faced 51 Wayne State hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out seven.
» Malone led the Beavers at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double, a home run and two RBI.
» Wayne State was led offensively by freshman Carter Thomas, who went 3-for-6 with a double, a home run and three RBI.
» Freshman Braden Cannon led the Wildcats pitching staff, throwing 5.2 innings of one-run ball.
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