MANKATO, Minn. --The Minot State Beavers scored the win they needed to advance to the next week's NSIC Softball Tournament, splitting on the road Saturday in an NSIC doubleheader with host Minnesota State, Mankato.

After a near-miss in the opener, a 1-0 win by the Mavericks, the Beavers rallied as Brooklyn Morrison's two-run double highlighted a three-run rally, part of a dominant 5-0 win by Minot State (28-20 overall, 15-11 NSIC).

Minot State wraps up the regular season on Sunday playing Concordia, St. Paul in a final NSIC doubleheader hosted by the Golden Bears at the Dome on the Mankato campus.

GAME 1 | Minnesota State 1, Minot State 0
MANKATO, Minn. -- The Minot State Beavers were not able to record a run against Minnesota State pitcher junior McKayla Armbruster on Saturday despite totaling seven hits and were shut out 1-0 by the Mavericks.

Freshman Kierra Fournier (4-7) got the ball to start for Minot State and took the loss. The right-hander went 6.1 innings, giving up one run on seven hits, allowing four walks and striking out five.

Junior Gabi Dawyduk led the way offensively for the Beavers, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with a double. Junior Lexi Barduson provided a standout performance as well, going 2-for-3 with a double.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Minot State managed one chance with runners on third in the shutout, going a total of 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. The Beavers last got a runner on third in the sixth, when Dawyduk made it 60 feet away from scoring with one out.

GAME NOTES
» Minot State pitchers faced 29 Minnesota State hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and three fly balls while striking out five.
» Dawyduk led the Beavers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double.
» Minnesota State was led offensively by junior Sydney Nelson, who went 3-for-3.
» Armbruster led the Mavericks pitching staff, throwing seven scoreless innings.
 
GAME 2 | Minot State 5, Minnesota State 0
MANKATO, Minn. --Sophomore Reegan Floyd was dealing on Saturday, tossing a shutout to lead the Minot State Beavers past the Minnesota State Mavericks 5-0.

Floyd (10-10) went the distance for Minot State, giving up eight hits, walking one and striking out 10.

Junior Brooklyn Morrison led the way offensively for the Beavers, going 2-for-4 in the ballgame with a double and two RBI. Senior Leo Watson put together a noteworthy performance as well, going 2-for-3 with a walk. Junior Gabi Dawyduk also chipped in, going 1-for-4 for Minot State with a double.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers took the lead for good in the third, scoring for the first time in the inning. Minot State scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Morrison.

The Beavers also added runs in the sixth inning when they scored two times.

GAME NOTES
» Floyd tossed an eight-hit shutout for the Beavers.
» Floyd struck out 10 Mavericks hitters.
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the third, when it pushed three runs across.
» Minot State went 2-for-6 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers limited Minnesota State to just 2-for-12 (.167) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers faced 30 Minnesota State hitters in the game, allowing two ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out 10.
» Morrison led the Beavers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
» Minnesota State was led offensively by junior Madi Newman, who went 2-for-3 with two doubles.
» Junior Kacy Nickerson led the Mavericks pitching staff, throwing five innings of four-run ball.

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