DENVER, Colo. – The Beavers are heading back to the Mile High City to resume their non-conference slate with a half-dozen games against three Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foes this coming weekend.
The Minot State baseball team (2-6 overall, 1-3 NSIC) just wrapped up a league-opening weekend on the road against Concordia, St. Paul and head back to Denver, Colorado where they opened the season with four games against the Regis Rangers.
The Beavers hit the diamond for a doubleheader starting at noon (Mountain Time) against Metro State on Friday, then take on Colorado School of Mines on Saturday at noon (MT) in a single game. Minot State continues its extended weekend in Denver with a single game against Colorado Christian at 3 p.m. (MT) on Sunday, then, after a day to rest, the Beavers hit the field for a Tuesday twinbill against Colorado School of Mines starting at noon (MT) to wrap up the weekend.
The six games are a great opportunity for Minot State to get on a roll as the three opponents are a combined 11-26.
It's been an up-and-down first two weeks for Minot State, starting with a pitching staff that's seen some bright spots from
Jonah Prokott, who struck out a career-high 7 Golden Bear batters in 5 innings in Minot State's 6-3 win Monday over Concordia, St. Paul. Prokott is 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA and 8 Ks in 8 2/3 innings this season.
Teammate
Craig Schmich has been a hard-luck starter for the Beavers as he is 0-2 but has a solid 3.48 ERA with 9 Ks in 10 1/3 innings, while
Cameron Bagshaw has the team's other win working as a reliever in all four of his appearances. Bagshaw has not allowed an earned run and has 3 Ks in 4 innings work.
While they lead the staff on the hill, the Beavers offense also is working its way into form as the team is hitting .288 with 6 home runs and 14-of-18 stolen bases.
Preseason All-American
Gunnar Kozlowitz is leading the way hitting .333 with 9 RBIs in eight games, while junior outfielder and transfer
Grant Gabbert is helping out at the dish hitting .296 with 1 homer and 6 RBIs.
Sophomore
Colton Bagshaw has been another top offensive contributor for the Beavers as he is hitting .273 with a home run and 7 RBIs, and he is 5-of-6 in stolen bases.
The Beavers take on three teams also trying to find their rhythm as the Roadrunners (7-8) come in hitting well with a .293 team batting average that includes 12 home runs and 23-of-27 stolen bases, but that strong offense hasn't been enough to overcome an 8.61 ERA for the pitching staff to date.
The meetings will be the fourth and fifth between the two teams who played a three-game series in Denver in February of 2022 with Minot State taking 2-of-3.
The series also will give Minot State some measure of another NSIC foe as Metro State has played a four-game series against Sioux Falls, splitting the four games as the Roadrunners picked up a pair of 5-3 wins while losing 6-3 and 15-12 to the Cougars.
After Friday's doubleheader, the Beavers return to the diamond Saturday at noon for a single game, the first of three contests against the Orediggers (3-6) who have struggled offensively hitting just .204 as a team with 6 home runs and 12-of-17 stolen bases.
The exact opposite of the Roadrunners, Colorado School of Mines has hung in games thanks to pitching as the staff has a 4.79 ERA, has struck out 67 opposing hitters in 71 1/3 innings, and allowed opponents to hit just .233 this season.
The meeting will be the first between Minot State and Colorado School of Mines. The teams also play a noon doubleheader on Tuesday to wrap up the Beavers extended weekend in Colorado.
Minot State's other game will be a Sunday matinee against Colorado Christian (1-12) with first pitch at 3 p.m. The meeting also will be the first between the two programs.
The Cougars are having troubles both offensively and on the mound as Colorado Christian has hit just .236 as a team this season and averages just 4.3 runs per game while the pitching staff has a 9.61 ERA and foes hit .320 against the Cougars.
