MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University gave up a lead and then rallied in the sixth inning to win game 1 propelling the Beavers to a series sweep in a pivotal set with the University of Sioux Falls Friday at Corbett Field.

MSU won game 1 7-6 with two runs in the bottom of the sixth and smacked 12 hits in game 2 to win 12-6 to complete the weekend sweep.

"It feels really good," MSU head coach Scott Eul said of the sweep. "The guys came out and had a mission to get after them a little bit. It was good for us to get a little separation with (USF) with them right behind us in the standings. We pitched it pretty well and swung it really well all weekend."

The Beavers (20-12 overall, 15-9 NSIC) solidified itself in fourth overall in the NSIC with just three weeks to play. The top eight teams from the regular season qualify for the NSIC Tournament. MSU is seeking its first berth in the postseason since moving to the Northern Sun.

In game 1, MSU cruised through five innings carrying a 4-0 lead into the fifth by virtue of a four-run first inning.

But USF (12-22, 9-15) scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning behind seven hits. The Beavers used three pitchers in the inning, but Aaron Kern came on to get the final out, stranding two USF runners and, after the Beavers scored in the bottom of the inning, earned the win evening his record at 1-1.

In the MSU half of the sixth, Sean Alp doubled home Trevaun Smith, who opened the bottom of the sixth with a walk, to tie the game at six and later scored the game winner on a Justin Demary two-out single.

"I think they like to get me boiling a little," Eul said with a laugh. "They (Sioux Falls) did that (putting together comebacks) a lot in this series and credit them, but we got the runs right back. That's a little demoralizing when you can get those right back and that's something we did really well all weekend."

The Beavers built the four-run lead on a series of singles in the first. Michael Borst singled home Alp, Wyatt Schlosser plated Jordan Schulz with a single and Celestino Rodriguez's single up the middle capped a four-run, five-hit inning.

Alp finished with three hits and Schulz, Borst, Schlosser and Rodriguez all finished with two hits for the Beavers.

It was much of the same for the Beavers in game 2, only this time MSU didn't let it slip away. The Beavers scored six in the first inning and never looked back as Mark LaCroix and Wyatt Moore each shook off slow starts to earn the win and a save respectively.

LaCroix gave up three runs in the first, but blanked the Cougars for the next four as the lead grew to 9-3. LaCroix was charged with two runs in the sixth and Moore gave up a double to the first hitter he saw in the sixth, but scrambled to get the Beavers out of the inning. He was superb the rest of the way, allowing just four hits and one unearned run over the final four innings for his first save of the year.

"LaCroix is a senior for us and knows what it takes to get it done and did a great job for the second straight game for us," Eul said. "Wyatt has had some trouble in his last couple outings, but was really good today. He threw strikes and was sharp."

MSU tacked on insurance runs in the fourth (2), fifth (1), sixth (2) and eighth (1) as the offense continued to get better as the series went on.

"I think the biggest thing for us was energy," Eul said of the offense. "I think (last week) we were flat in those games. Maybe it was a little coach chewing or something, but whatever it was, it worked."

Borst had three extra base hits, going 3 for 4 with two triples and a double and drove in five in the game. Jarrod Adams cranked his fourth home run on the season, a grand slam in the first inning and Smith, Alp and Kyle Williamson all finished with two hits apiece.

The Beavers finished a 10-game home stand going 6-4 with a win over No. 21 ranked Minnesota State and now will take to the road for six straight starting with two at Bemidji State Wednesday.

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.