ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Minot State University needed to get its bats going to preserve the streak.

MSU trailed fellow Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference team Minnesota Crookston 4-1 entering the fifth inning, but exploded for seven runs en route to an 8-6 win to sweep the day in nonconference NCAA Division II softball Sunday at the Husky Dome.

The Beavers (11-2 overall) defeated Wisconsin-Parkside 5-3 in the first game of the day to run their winning streak to eight games.

"We didn't play our best ball, but we battled and got the wins," said MSU head coach Bill Triplett. "Hopefully we can learn from these games and get better."

In the second game, the Beavers were able to take the lead on UMC (0-7) by scoring in a variety of ways in the fifth. MSU cut the lead to 4-3 on a two-run home run by Ali Cygan (Sr., SS, Bozeman, Mont.) – her third HR of the season – and then scored two more via an RBI walk by Jenn Spencer (So., P, Winnipeg, Manitoba) and an RBI hit-by-pitch by Ally Gallant (Fr., INF, Clavet, Saskatchewan). Finally, MSU plated two more with a triple down the right field line by Melissa Bell (Sr., UTL, Belgrade, Mont.).

"We had to come from behind, but Cygan's home run got us within two and seemed to provide a big spark," Tiplett said. "It got us going."

MSU starter Mindy Lorimor (Sr., P, Thurman, Iowa) settled in after giving up a three-run home run in the first inning to pitch six strong innings. She finished with 13 innings on the day and 21 in two days, going 3-0. She gave up five hits, four runs with two strikeouts to run her record to 9-2.

Alexis Khoshaba paced the Golden Eagles with the home run, scored two runs and finished with three RBIs. Allison Foley went 3-for-4 at the plate, while Brooke Vatthauer was saddled with the loss in two-thirds innings of relief.

Bell finished with two triples and two RBIs, while Sarah Nicks (So., C, Grossmont, Calif.) was 3 for 4 and Ashley Hill (Fr., 1B, Mesa, Ariz.) was 2 for 4 for the Beavers in the win.

In the first game, MSU needed a comeback as well, trailing 3-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth, but again scored runs when the Beavers needed to. Minot State plated two in the fifth and an insurance run in the sixth to pull away. MSU got a big single by Hill to score Cygan after Cygan walked and stole second to set up the scoring play, tying it at 3. The Beavers added a second unearned run in the inning and another off a Ranger miscue in the sixth.

Bell finished with three hits against Parkside, going 5 for 8 on the day and scored a run. Jordan Grant (So., CF, Adelnato, Calif.), Rachel Burdette (So., UTL, Temecula, Calif.) and Hill all finished with two hits with Grant scoring two and Hill knocking in two.

Paige Harboard went 2 for 4 and Madison Manders was 2 for 3 for Parkside (3-9), while Courtney Ellingson's two-run HR in the top of the fifth gave the Rangers their brief 3-2 lead.

Lorimor was steady with a complete-game, seven-hitter. She allowed three runs – two earned – and struck out four.

"Alyssa (Cornejo, So., P/UTL, Riverside, Calif.) was supposed to pitch the first one but came up sick and was scratched." said Triplett. "Mindy pitched well and made our lead stand."

Minot State moves on to its annual spring trip to Florida, playing 10 games in six days starting Thursday.