Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BEMIDJI, Minn. – Not much separated Minot State University baseball and their Beaver counterparts from Bemidji State as the two teams split a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games Sunday to end the regular season.

Minot State (19-23 overall, 13-15 NSIC) used a huge bases loaded double play in the bottom of the eighth inning in game 1 to preserve a 3-2 win before Bemidji State (21-22, 15-15) twirled a six-hit shutout in game 2. Over the four games on the weekend, each team picked up a win in extra innings and the final run tally saw BSU hold a 10-9 advantage.

"It was a very evenly matched series," said MISU head coach Brock Weppler. "I told their coach that yesterday. In our conference, really the fourth seed on down is pretty evenly matched. I think that really speaks to the depth of the conference. We feel it is one of the best if not the best in Division II top to bottom.

"We got the split and while it wasn't exactly what we wanted to do, obviously, we wanted to win both games, but we had a good run at the end of the season and were playing our best baseball at the end and that is all you can ask for. We got into a little funk in the middle of the year, but we didn't give up and didn't quit and beat some quality programs this season."

In game 1, Minot State starter Joshua Larsen (Jr., P, Surrey, British Columbia) pitched six strong innings, but the Beavers gave up a run in the bottom of the seventh – after scoring one in the top of the inning – to see its second extra innings game in the past three outings.

In the eighth, Andrew Roach (Jr., OF, Gilbert, Ariz.) singled to start the inning, moved over on a sacrifice bunt by A.J. Begay (Sr., 3B, Salt Lake City, Utah) and scored on a single by Connor Moughtin (Sr., C, Victoria, British Columbia), to give MISU a one-run lead.

BSU loaded the bases with one out and it looked like Minot State might drop their second-straight extra inning game, but MISU's closer Alec Grothe (So., P, Bismarck, N.D.) induced a 5-2-3 double play to earn his third save of the season.

"We went to him because he has established himself in that role," Weppler said. "He challenged batters and got a big double play ball in a tough spot. After yesterday, he wanted another chance and of course we were going to him."

Minot State got three hits from the leadoff spot Nicholas Hammerl (Jr., 2B, West Peoria, Ill.), two from Brad Rolff (Jr., INF, North Fork, Calif.) and got RBIs from Conner Oliver (Jr., P/OF, Dayton, Nev.) and Roach.

"It seems like when he has had a good game, it gets us going," Weppler said of Hammerl. "I don't know how many times he has hit a double in his first at bat to be a spark plug for us."

Game 2 was a pitching duel between Minot State's Brock McCashland (Jr., P, Ogden, Utah) and BSU's Jessse Katz. Katz limited the Beavers to just six hits and posted just the fifth shutout against MISU this season. McCashland was solid as he allowed nine hits and gave up three runs while striking out four in six innings, falling to 3-3.

"It was tough hitting. He (Katz) worked quickly to the plate and we didn't get the running game going," Weppler said. "It was tough to rely on always getting multiple hits."

Begay finished with two hits, while fellow seniors Tyler Stevenson (Sr., OF, Cheyenne, Wyo.), Sean Arbaut (Sr., INF, Tehachapi, Calif.), Moughtin and Roach – who is listed as a junior but might be in his last season – all finished with a hit.

For Weppler, the production from his seniors wasn't lost on the day.

"I think some of the struggles they have endured, the culture and program has changed in a lot of ways," he said. "They are a big part of that, especially the four-year guys. We have raised expectations and they played a big role in that. It's a great group of guys and will miss them."

Minot State finished in 10th place, a game back of Bemidji and just a game and a half back of eighth place Wayne State.