MINOT, N.D. – It was a short homestand of just 2 games and the Minot State baseball team finds itself back on the road.

The Beavers head to Sioux Falls for three games against the Cougars, playing an NSIC doubleheader Saturday starting at 1:30 p.m. followed by a single game Sunday at noon.

Both teams head into the weekend looking to shake the memory of recent setbacks as the Cougars (19-13 overall, 12-10 NSIC) lost a pair at Augustana on Wednesday, while the Beavers (9-22, 6-15) have dropped their last five.

Head-to-head, though, Minot State has won the last four meetings and 12 of the last 13, which could make for a fun weekend for the Beavers if they can continue that success.

Pitching, which has been hot and cold this season for the Beavers, will set the tone as Sioux Falls' offense is hitting just .279 as a team, though the Cougars do average 6.85 runs per game.

As for the Beavers, they are hitting .300 as a team and average 6.63 runs per game themselves.

With near similar offenses, that means pitching will have a big impact as the Cougars are sixth in the NSIC with their 5.45 ERA compared to Minot State's 9.57 ERA.

But when Minot State is on its game their staff can be as tough as anyone's in the league, which Craig Schmich proved last weekend with his 7 strikeouts in 6 innings for a 7-3 win over second-place Minnesota State, Mankato.

The Beavers will look to that kind of effort on the mound to shut down the Cougars.

Offensively, the Beavers will look to hot hitters like Ricky Apodaca and Grant Gabbert to continue to play well as Apodaca (.455, 27 RBIs) is on an 11-game hit streak and Gabbert (.310, 4 HRs, 19 RBIs) on his second 7-game hit streak this season.

Teammate Mark Ossanna also has been hammering the ball of late - he's 10-of-17 with 12 RBIs in his last five games - and hitting .361 on the year, and Brian Parry continues to be consistent hitting .360 on the season.

As for the Cougars, redshirt senior infielder Tyler Cate leads the way with a .340 average while junior catcher Ryan Gouldin (.235) leads the team in homers with 5, and redshirt senior outfielder Brady Klehr (.279) leads the way with 32 RBIs.

Starters redshirt freshman Owen Weadge (3.00 ERA, 3-1), sophomore Jake Ammann (4.50 ERA, 2-1), and senior Reese Gaber (5.30 ERA, 4-3) lead the way on the hill.