MINOT, N.D.  – Minot State University had its fair share of chances late in both midweek home games against Northern State.

But the Beavers couldn't get the big hit when they needed it.

Minot State gave up three runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to fall 5-1 in game 1 and allowed a run in the top of the ninth to drop a 2-1 decision in game 2 as the Wolves escaped Minot with a two-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball sweep Thursday at Herb Parker Stadium.

"We got the runners on, but couldn't get the big hit," said MSU head coach Bill Triplett. "It's tough when you have your (Nos.) 3-4-5 hitters out with injuries. Our young kids are being asked to step up. It's tough when the wind is blowing in your face and out power hitters on the bench. We are battling with good at bats, but needed to get a key one, especially in the second game."

MSU (12-18 overall, 1-10 NSIC) took a 1-0 lead as Rachel Burdette (Jr., UTL, Temecula, Calif.) drove in Jordan Grant (Jr., CF, Adelanto, Calif.) on a ground out in the bottom of the first inning.

It looked like that might be enough for starter Jenn Spencer, who was solid through five innings. But NSU scored three in the sixth, on unearned, and tacked on two more in the seventh to spoil a solid outing. Spencer went 6 2/3 innings, giving up eight hits and five runs.

"She had a good outing, probably one of her best this year in tough conditions," Triplet said. "She had good movement on her pitches. She kept the ball at their knees and set them down."

Grant led the Beavers with two hits, stole a base and scored a run.

While game 1 was close most of the way, game 2 proved to be a pitcher's duel between MSU's Alyssa Cornejo (Jr., P/UTL, Riverside, Calif.) and NSU's Missy Elkins the entire nine innings. Elkins got the upper hand by tossing a five hitter, allowing one run, walking one and striking out one MSU batter. Cornejo was the tough-luck loser as she allowed just seven hits and two runs while fanning 10 NSU batters in nine innings.

NSU (14-22, 4-8) got a solo home run to take a 1-0 lead in the fourth, but the Beavers bounced right back to tie the game as Kyla Larson (So., OF, Wahiawa, Hawaii) came around to score as Isis Cabral (Fr., OF, Oxnard, Calif.) hit a ball that the Wolves' third baseman couldn't handle.

It stayed that way until Northern's Katelynn Dilts singled home Ashley Clapp for the eventual game winner.

"We're not getting the little breaks to go our way," Triplett said. "But this group is improving. We are getting better every day."

The Beavers continue a homestand this weekend, taking on Winona State Saturday and Upper Iowa Sunday in NSIC play at Herb Parker Stadium.

About Minot State
Minot State University is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and NCAA Division II offering 14 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletics programs. The NSIC is a premier NCAA DII, 16-member conference featuring teams in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. The Beavers are the only public NCAA Division II institution in the state of North Dakota.