Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University softball ran into a hitting machine Friday as No. 24 Augustana College finished with 20 runs and 21 hits in a sweep of the Beavers at Herb Parker Stadium.

Minot State (28-16, 15-11) fell 9-4 in game 1 and then lost 11-2 in five innings in game 2. The Vikings improved to 39-11 on the season and 22-7 in NSIC play.

Beavers' starting pitcher Mindy Lorimor (Jr., Thurman, Iowa) cruised threw two innings in game 1, but ran into trouble in the third and fourth innings as the Vikings scored four in the third and three in the fourth.

Minot State tried to claw its way back into the game, getting a single unearned run in the sixth, but Augie countered with two more in the top of the seventh. The Beavers plated three more in the seventh as Melissa Bell (Jr., C, Belgrade, Mont.) knocked in two and Jen Dixon (Sr., OF/P, Brandon, Manitoba) drove in a run but the rally fell short.

Augustana College's Jenelle Trautmann pitched six strong innings for the win, moving to 23-5 on the year. She also had two hits – including a home run – and drove in three runs. Sarah Kennedy was 4-for-4 for the Vikings and drove in two.

Dixon and Darlene Truong (Jr., C, Escondido, Calif.) each went 2-for-4 in the game as Dixon finished with a run scored and an RBI. Katie Backes (Sr., UTL, Minot, N.D.) had the other hit for MISU.

Game 2 saw much of the same for the Vikings as they scored three in the second and seven in the third to lead 10-0 before the Beavers could get on the board. Kennedy continued to swing a hot bat as she went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Caitlin Nichol added two hits and three RBIs for Augie. Carly Pickett went four innings for the win.

Backes had two hits for the Beavers and Bell and Stacy Fournier (Sr., 3B, Langley, British Columbia) knocked in runs for MISU. Lorimor was the losing pitcher in game 2 as well as she gave up eight hits and nine runs – seven earned – in 2 2/3 innings.
Minot State will look to end the regular season in a strong fashion as they play host to Wayne State College in the season finale at Herb Parker Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.