Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ABERDEEN, S.D. – Minot State baseball lost two Northern Sun Intercollegiate games at the hands of Northern State University (19-10 Overall, 12-6 NSIC) Tuesday afternoon. The Beavers (9-17 Overall, 3-9 NSIC) have now lost six straight games including five straight NSIC games.

Minot State dropped the opening game 7-5 before falling 8-1 in the latter game of the afternoon.

In game one, Minot State was roughed up early for five runs in the second inning off starting pitcher Jesse Goertzen (So., P, Steinbach, Manitoba). In his last outing, Goertzen pitching a complete game win over nationally ranked St. Cloud State. The Beaver defense was not on point either as there were two errors committed in the inning.

"Jesse threw fine in my opinion," said Minot State head coach Brock Weppler. "He threw well enough for us to get a win but we just didn't make plays behind him like we need to. It was a little sloppy on both sides and it was just one of those games. They (NSU) just made the adjustments today and we didn't make those adjustments with them."

Trailing 5-2, MISU battled back with three runs in the top of the third inning. Sean Arbaut (Sr., Inf., Tehachapi, Calif.), Andrew Roach (Jr., OF, Gilbert, Ariz.), Connor Moughtin (Sr., C, Victoria, British Columbia) and C.J. Lyte (Jr., OF, Vallejo, Calif.) all had hits in the inning, but the sloppiness was present as NSU committed two errors in the inning. Although Minot State left the bases loaded, they were able to tie things up at five runs apiece.

Goertzen returned to the mound but gave up two more runs, one each in the fourth and fifth innings. Weppler then turned to his bullpen as Alec Grothe (So., P, Bismarck, N.D.) came in and shut down the Wolves offense.

Grothe held NSU one hit over the next 1.2 innings while allowing no runs. He's been a bright spot for the Beavers in 2014 as her has an ERA of 1.80 through 15 innings pitched. Grothe has allowed just 13 hits while striking out 14 batters on the year.
"He's been pretty reliable for us this year," Weppler said of his reliever. "He's been good in tough situations. He comes in with runners on and has really embraced that role. He gives teams fits because he gives them such a different look."

The Beavers ran into a solid pitcher in game two as NSU starter Cody Johns went the complete nine innings while allowing just three hits and one run to the Beavers as NSU prevailed 8-1.

"He worked quick and got ahead of a lot of our hitters," said Weppler. "I think at that point frustration had set in for us and we don't do well when we are frustrated as a team. It's something we work on and we let get to us today."

Arbaut was the only Beaver to pick up an RBI in the loss as he laced a double in the first inning, scoring Nick Hammerl (Jr., Inf., West Peoria, Ill.) who reached on an error to start the game.

The Beavers will now prepare for a four-game weekend series with NSIC foe Winona State University. Minot State will host the Warriors (12-16 Overall, 9-7 NSIC) on Friday and Saturday April 18 & 19 at Corbett Field.