CLERMONT, Fla. – Minot State University used the long ball to power itself past the University of Wisconsin-Stout Saturday to earn a split of its opening games in Florida.

The Beavers (4-5 overall) were edged in a tough 2-1 contest in the opener against NCAA Division II Georgia Court University before erupting for a 13-5 over the NCAA DIII Stout.

“That first game was a little disheartening for us but we bounced back in a big way in game 2,” said MSU head coach Bill Triplett. “We had a few physical and a couple mental errors from which we will learn, but overall, I was pleased with our effort. It's good to see we can compete at this level and we're really looking forward to the rest of our games down here.”

Game 1 was a true pitcher's duel as MSU's Tiffany Friesen (Jr., P/3B, Morden, Manitoba) gave up just one earned run and three hits for seven innings but her counterpart Illiana Teran gave up just four hits and one run in seven.

The Beavers took a 1-0 lead on a RBI single by Jen Dixon (So., OF/P, Brandon, Manitoba), plating Kyla Thiesen (Sr., 2B, Brandon, Manitoba).

But Georgian Court (10-4) got its game winner on a home run by Brooke Hull after an error gave GCU a baserunner.

Minot State opened up a 6-0 over Stout thanks to a four-run third inning as Melissa Bell (Fr., C, Belgrade, Mont.) and Dixon went back-to-back home runs after a Katie Backes (So., OF, Minot, N.D.) walk and a double by Thiesen.

UW-S got to within 6-2 before MSU shut the door with a seven-run top of the seventh. Backes, Dixon and Friesen all drove in two runs in the inning for the Beavers.

“The Wisconsin-Stout game was a coming out party for freshman Melissa Bell and Jen Dixon also stayed red hot for us,” Triplett said.

Mandy Greenberg (Jr., P, Winnipeg, Manitoba) was the winner in the circle for the Beavers. Dixon was 3 for 5 with a home run and four runs batted in, while Bell was 3 for 4 with four RBIs.

MSU continues the tournament with a single game against American International College at 9 a.m. (ET)