KANSAS CITY, Kan. – After three weeks off, the Beaver baseball team resumes its early-season schedule with an NSIC series in Kansas.

Minot State will be the host for the four-game series as the Beavers (1-3 overall) battle Southwest Minnesota State (2-2, 1-2 NSIC) on Monday and Tuesday in doubleheaders, with the first three games counting in the NSIC race.

Newcomer Vinnie Gates led the way for the Beaver offense when they hit the field at the start of this month in Arizona, as Minot State battled Adams State (Colo.) and Emporia State (Kan.). Gates was 8-for-16 with 8 RBIs in four games in Arizona.

Returning pitcher and utility player Colton Bagshaw was 4-for-8 with 3 RBIs in three games, while newcomer Nate Hutchison added a 6-for-15 effort in four games with a team-high 9 RBIs.

Returning infielder Noah Madas and returning pitcher and outfielder Wyatt Toth also had big efforts as Madas was 6-for-14 with 2 RBIs in four games, and Toth went 3-for-7 with an RBI in three games for the Beavers.

While the offense did well for the Beavers, who hit .305 and plated 30 runs, pitching will be the big factor this week in Kansas City.

Returners Ayden Sauerbrei and Bagshaw were solid in Arizona, with Sauerbrei earning a save in two outings, pitching 4 2/3 innings with 4 strikeouts, while Bagshaw went 4 1/3 innings in a start, allowing just two earned runs while striking out one batter.

The lone win belonged to returner Conner Meldrim, who worked 2 1/2 innings in two outings, allowing 1 earned run and striking out one batter.

As for the Mustangs, they played their first neutral-site NSIC series last weekend, taking on Minnesota Crookston in South Dakota, with the Golden Eagles taking 2 of the 3 NSIC-counting contests.

Junior Davis Connor was an offensive machine for the Mustangs, going 8-for-17 with 4 home runs and 8 RBIs, while teammate and redshirt freshman Josh Berreth added 2 homers and 5 RBIs, going 3-for-7 at the plate.

As a team, Southwest Minnesota State hit .348 and crushed 8 home runs in the four-game series.

Junior righthander Carson Bougher led the way on the hill, pitching 4 1/3 innings in two games out of the bullpen, striking out 4, while freshman lefty Dylan Webb picked up 1 win, going 3 innings in relief, and redshirt freshman righty Ryan Dalager had the other win as he pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief in two games.