Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Las Vegas, Nev. – Minot State University softball rode the arms of Tiffany Friesen (Sr., P/3B, Morden, Manitoba) and Mandy Greenberg (Sr., P, Winnipeg, Manitoba) – as well as the bat of Jen Dixon (Jr., OF/P, Brandon, Manitoba) – to an opening day sweep.

Friesen and Greenberg each earned wins in strong outings and Dixon reached base in her first five plate appearances to pace Minot State to wins over Western Oregon University and Humboldt State in the first day of the Montana State-Billings Desert Stinger Friday at Majestic Park.

Minot State defeated Western Oregon 6-0 for its first win as a full member of NCAA Division II and followed that up with a solid 2-0 win over Humboldt State in the nightcap. Minot State opens 2-0 for the first time in three seasons at the Desert Stinger and improves its overall record at the event to 5-7.

In game 1 against Western Oregon, Dixon gave Friesen all the run support she needed with a first-inning solo home run to left center. Dixon finished with two doubles, the home run and scored four runs.

Friesen took over from there, going six strong innings as the Beavers' opening game starter, striking out 12 batters. She struck out the side in the third and had multiple strikeouts in the first, second, third, fifth and sixth innings.

“Tiff really set the stage for us,” MISU head coach Bill Triplett said. “She had very good control from the start and looked pretty comfortable out there even as the temperature dropped. She had a solid season for us last year and looks to be picking up where she left off.”

Stacy Fournier (So.,3B, Langley, British Columbia) provided some insurance runs in the fifth as she singled home Dixon and Ali Cygan (So., SS, Bozeman, Mont.). Fournier was 1 for 2 with two RBIs, while Cygan was 1 for 4 with a run scored in her first game as a Beaver.

Cygan and Dixon did the offensive damage in game 2, as Minot State scored single runs in the first and third innings to top Humboldt. Dixon smashed her third double of the day to left center, plating Melissa Bell (So., C, Belgrade, Mont.), who had walked, for a 1-0 lead. Cygan homered to left center for her first dinger with the Beavers in the third.

The runs stood as Friesen and Greenberg combined for a five hitter. Greenberg struck out five in 4 1/3 innings, getting her biggest K of the game by setting down HSU's Hannah Williams – her first batter she faced – in the third.

“We got some timely hitting and bucked down in the circle when we needed to,” Triplett said. “Mandy did a good job of coming in off the bench in relief to get the win. I'm very happy with our pitching performances so far.”

Cygan was 1 for 2, while Dixon and Friesen each went 1 for 3 in the win.

The Beavers (2-0 overall) continue play at the Desert Stinger Saturday, facing Simon Fraser (B.C.) in a single game starting at 4:30 p.m. (PT).