TUCSON, Ariz. – The Beavers started with a bang on Sunday, but a late charge by Emporia State (Kan.) spoiled the day for Minot State, which closed its weekend in Arizona with a 13-12 setback.

The Beavers (1-3 overall) now are off for three weeks before playing an NSIC neutral-site series against Southwest Minnesota State on February 22 and 23 in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Sunday against the Hornets, Minot State came out strong in the bottom of the first inning, plating seven runs for a big early lead.

Noah Madas, Colton Bagshaw, Jessen West, Cowen Meyer, and Vinnie Gates all drove in a run each in the rally for Minot State.

The Beavers kept adding on as Jake Orthner and Nate Hutchison added an RBI single and RBI double, respectively, for a 9-2 lead after four innings, then Wyatt Toth's RBI sacrifice fly to left made it 10-2 in favor of Minot State after five frames.

But the Hornets came buzzing back with 9 runs in the top of the sixth to grab the lead before a see-saw fight to the finish.

A Hutchison RBI double in the bottom half of the inning tied it 11-11, and Bagshaw singled in a run for a 13-12 deficit after seven innings, but Minot State could get no closer.

Meyer, Madas, Toth, Bagshaw, and Hutchison each collected two hits on the day to lead the Beaver offense.