FAYETTE, Iowa – Javier Gutierrez's two-run home run capped a four-run rally and provided the margin of difference for Minot State, which held on for a 9-7 win over host Upper Iowa to open an NSIC baseball doubleheader on Friday.
The host Peacocks took the nightcap 10-7.
Minot State (17-10 overall, 8-7 NSIC) wraps up the three-game series at Upper Iowa at noon on Saturday with a single game.
GAME 1 | Minot State 9, Upper Iowa 7
FAYETTE, Iowa --The Minot State Beavers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and never surrendered the advantage on the way to a 9-7 win against the Upper Iowa Peacocks on Friday.
Senior Dominick Parkhurst (4-0) started on the mound and picked up the win for Minot State. The right-hander went six innings, giving up one run on two hits, allowing no walks and striking out six.
At the plate, the Beavers were paced by junior Javier Gutierrez, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a triple, a home run and two RBI. Junior Mark Ossanna put together a noteworthy performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Senior Matt Malone also contributed for Minot State, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding a double, a walk and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. Minot State got on the board thanks to Malone's RBI double with one out.
After the Peacocks rallied to tie the ballgame at one, the Beavers came back to retake the lead in the second inning. Minot State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of junior Shane Kary, which brought the score to 2-1 in favor of the Beavers.
Minot State held Upper Iowa scoreless before building their lead to 5-1 the following inning. The Beavers picked up three runs in the frame, two of them coming across on a two-run homer from Ossanna.
Minot State held the Peacocks scoreless before expanding their lead in the fifth inning. The Beavers scored four runs in the inning, highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Gutierrez, bringing the score to 9-1 in favor of Minot State. Upper Iowa put six runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Beavers still held on for the 9-7 win.
GAME NOTES
» Parkhurst struck out six Peacocks hitters.
» 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 fifth, when it pushed four runs across.
» Minot State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Parkhurst put together six innings of one-run ball for the Beavers.
» The Beavers out-hit the Peacocks at a 10-6 clip.
» Minot State went 4-for-7 (.571) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers faced 29 Upper Iowa hitters in the game, allowing three ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out eight.
» Gutierrez led the Beavers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a triple, a home run and two RBI.
» Upper Iowa was led offensively by junior Samuel Grushkin, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
GAME 2 | Upper Iowa 10, Minot State 7
FAYETTE, Iowa --Junior Gunnar Kozlowitz and senior Derek Kay each hit two home runs but the Minot State Beavers fell to the Upper Iowa Peacocks 10-7 on Friday.
Junior Gage Yost (2-1) started and took the loss on the mound for Minot State. Senior Garrett Nicholson was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going one shutout inning without allowing a hit, walking none and striking out two.
Kay added three RBI to his two homer day and Kozlowitz supplemented his own two big flies with three RBI for the Beavers. Sophomore Dalin Ludlow also chipped in for Minot State, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Kay put Minot State on the board with a one-out solo home run off junior Keaton Parker.
The Peacocks then rallied to score nine runs and take a 9-1 lead before the Beavers got back on the board in the sixth. Minot State hit two home runs in the inning on the way to pushing four runs across. which brought the score to 9-5 in favor of the Peacocks.
Minot State held the Peacocks off the scoreboard before narrowing the gap to 9-6 in the seventh. The Beavers scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Ludlow.
The Peacocks expanded their lead to 10-6 before the Minot State offense got back in action, cutting into that lead in the eighth. The Beavers picked up a run on Kozlowitz's one-out solo home run off senior Sam Marhefke, tightening the Upper Iowa lead to 10-7. The Beavers were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
GAME NOTES
» Kay and Kozlowitz each hit multiple home runs in the ballgame.
» Minot State got multiple extra-base hits from both Kozlowitz and Kay.
» Kay and Kozlowitz drove in three runs each for Minot State.
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed four runs across.
» The Beavers took Upper Iowa pitchers deep four times on Friday.
» Minot State pitchers faced 42 Upper Iowa hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out 10.
» Kay led the Beavers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI.
» Upper Iowa was led offensively by junior Ryan Hull, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI.
» Parker led the Peacocks pitching staff, throwing 6.1 innings of six-run ball.
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