MINOT, ND – The Minot State baseball mixed it up with visiting Southwest Minnesota State in an NSIC doubleheader that went back and forth all afternoon.
In the end, it was the Mustangs who hung on late for a pair of wins, fending off a last at-bat Beaver charge for an 8-7 win in the opener, then scoring in the top of the ninth for a 15-14 win in the nightcap.
The home finale for the Beavers at Corbett Field, Minot State (26-17 overall, 17-14 NSIC) now wraps up the regular season with a three-game series at Bemidji State on Friday and Saturday needing one victory to punch its ticket to the NSIC Tournament next week in Bismarck, N.D.
GAME 1 | Southwest Minnesota State 8, Minot State 7
MINOT, ND -- Senior Derek Kay collected four RBIs, but the Minot State Beavers fell to the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs 8-7 on Tuesday.
Senior Dominick Parkhurst (4-1) started and took the loss on the mound for Minot State. Junior Noah Balandran was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going one shutout inning while allowing one hit.
Kay went 2-for-4 with a home run in addition to his four RBIs for the Beavers. Sophomore Dalin Ludlow put together a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Junior Martin Rodriquez also contributed for Minot State, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a double.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers were trailing 4-0 in the fourth inning when they first put runs on the board. Junior Gunnar Kozlowitz's run-scoring single highlighted a two-run inning for Minot State.
The Beavers deficit grew to 7-2 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, cutting into that deficit in the fifth inning. Minot State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Kay, which tightened the Mustangs lead to 7-3.
Southwest Minnesota State expanded their lead to 8-3 before the Minot State offense got back in action, reducing that lead to 8-7 in the seventh. The Beavers bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a three-run home run off the bat of Kay. The Beavers were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
GAME NOTES
» Kay drove in four runs for the Beavers.
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed four runs across.
» Minot State went 5-for-9 (.556) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers faced 34 Southwest Minnesota State hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out five.
» Kay led the Beavers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI.
» Southwest Minnesota State was led offensively by junior Max Kalenberg, who went 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI.
GAME 2 | Southwest Minnesota State 15, Minot State 14
MINOT, ND -- The Minot State Beavers took a 12-10 lead into the eighth inning, but could not hang on and fell 15-14 to the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs on Tuesday.
Junior Craig Schmich (4-4) came out of the bullpen for Minot State and took the loss. Sophomore Jonah Prokott was a bright spot for the Beavers, coming out of the bullpen as well and throwing two shutout innings, allowing no hits, with two walks and four strikeouts.
At the plate, the Beavers were paced by senior Matt Malone, who went 5-for-5 on the day with two doubles, a walk and four RBI. Junior Cameron Carr put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI. Junior Javier Gutierrez also chipped in for Minot State, putting together four hits in six trips to the plate while adding an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers lost despite scoring in six different innings in the ballgame, last holding the lead in the eighth inning at 12-10. Minot State started strong with a four-run first inning. The big hit for the Beavers in the inning was a two-run double off the bat of Malone.
GAME NOTES
» The Beavers got at least four hits from both Malone and Gutierrez.
» Minot State's power output was led by Malone, who compiled two extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Carr and Malone drove in four runs for the Beavers.
» Beavers pitchers combined to strike out 12 Southwest Minnesota State hitters.
» Six Minot State hitters had multiple base knocks in the ballgame.
» Minot State batters had a total of 20 hits in the game.
» Minot State left 13 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» The Beavers out-hit the Mustangs at a 20-13 clip.
» Minot State went 10-for-17 (.588) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers faced 52 Southwest Minnesota State hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and four fly balls while striking out 12.
» The Beavers drew seven walks from Southwest Minnesota State pitching.
» Malone led the Beavers at the plate, going 5-for-5 with two doubles and four RBI.
» Southwest Minnesota State was led offensively by sophomore Jake Tauer, who went 4-for-4 with a double, a home run and seven RBI.
» Sophomore Hayden Molva led the Mustangs pitching staff, throwing one scoreless inning.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
