Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Box Score Game 1
Box Score Game 2

SPEARFISH, S.D. – Minot State University softball got back to winning as the Beavers swept a pair of nonconference NCAA Division II games against fellow transitional team Black Hills State here Monday.

The Beavers had a 16-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the University of Mary in MSU's last outing, but bounced back with a 4-1, 5-4 (8) sweep of the Yellow Jackets.

Game 1 saw another solid outing in the circle for junior pitcher Tiffany Friesen (Morden, Manitoba). Friesen relieved MSU starter Mandy Greenberg (Jr., P, Winnipeg, Manitoba) to start the second inning and cruised. Friesen gave up just six hits and one run while striking out six batters.

The Beavers offense, meanwhile, produced 11 hits and scored all four runs in the sixth inning to rally from a 1-0 deficit. Taylor Studler (Fr., UTL, Gross Isle, Manitoba) and Colleen Bertrand (So., C, Langley, British Columbia) hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the inning in pinch hitting roles to break open the game. MSU was also helped by two BHSU errors in the inning.

Friesen and Stacy Fournier (So., INF, Langley, British Columbia) each had a pair of hits and Maribel Casillas (Jr., OF, Murrieta, Calif.) along with Studler and Bertrand finished with RBIs.

The Beavers (28-12 overall) was again helped by a key error as the Beavers scored the game winner in the eighth on an error. Deanna Mitchell (Sr., 1B, Portage, Manitoba) doubled and then scored on a Yellow Jacket error off the bat of Casillas.

Friesen didn't allow a comeback as she set down BHSU 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth to finalize the sweep. Friesen again picked up the win – her 12th of the season – again in relief. She gave up just four hits and no runs in 5 1/3 innings pitched in game 2.

Jen Dixon (So., OF/P, Brandon, Manitoba) finished with two hits and drove in two at the plate for the Beavers. She was joined by Fournier and Melissa Bell (Fr., C, Belgrade, Mont.) with two hits. Fournier and Friesen drove in runs in the win.

The Beavers have a Wednesday game at Mayville State before finishing the season at home with four against University of Sioux Falls April 28-29.