LA CROSSE, Wis. – Junior Darrel Doll launched a 2-1 pitch over the right field fence in the top of the ninth inning with the bases-loaded to give Minot State a 9-5 lead and their series-clinching win over Winona State in the second game on Sunday afternoon at Copeland Park.

The second day split moves Minot State to 5-9 (3-1 NSIC) on the season while the Warriors are now 2-9 (1-3 NSIC).

Game One

It did not take long for Minot State to score their first run, as Kyle Williamson smacked the first pitch of the game over the right field fence for his third home run of the season.

Winona State responded with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning on four hits and one Minot State error to take a 4-1 lead into the second inning.

Geordie McDougall led off the third inning with a walk before coming home to score on an RBI double to right center from Wyatt Schlosser, trimming the Warrior lead down to 4-2.

The Warriors added two runs in the third off a two-run home run from Chad Herbst to extend their lead to 6-2 over the Beavers.

Ethan Fleming singled up the middle before scoring on an RBI double to center by Dustin Wilcox. The Beavers added two more runs in the sixth inning to make it a one-run game. Celestino Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, followed by Zack Kunkel launching a two-run home run down the right field line to cut Winona State's lead to 6-5.

Winona State added an insurance run from a solo home run by Derek Martin in the sixth and shutout the Beavers in the seventh inning to clinch the 7-5 victory in game three of the series.

Schlosser and Fleming led the Minot State offense with two hits apiece while Williamson, Kunkel, Wilcox and McDougall recorded one hit. Kunkel posted a team-high two RBIs.

Andres Hackman dropped to 1-3 on the season while surrendering six runs, four earned, on eight hits and striking out two batters in three innings of work.

Aaron Bernal made his third appearance of the season on the mound, tossing the final three innings of relief. The Ontario, Calif. native gave up one run on two hits and struck out one Winona State batter.

Game Two

Winona State opened the scoring in the second game on an infield single to take a 1-0 lead in the third inning. The Warriors added to their lead in the fourth inning, as the Warriors exploded for four runs on two hits and one Minot State error to take a 5-0 lead.

Kunkel led off the fifth inning with a hit by pitch to reach base. After stealing second and advancing to third on a groundout, Kunkel scored on a sacrifice fly to left field from Logan Morse, scoring Minot State's first run of the game.

Minot State's first two batters reached base to start the seventh when Fleming singled to center and Morse was hit by pitch. Andrew Black followed with a single to load the bases before Williamson hit a sac fly to center, scoring Fleming.

Trailing 5-2, Borst slapped a two RBI single to center that allowed Black and Morse to come home and cut Winona State's lead to 5-4.

Morse led off the ninth inning with an infield single before Justin Demary reached on a bunt single and a walk to Williamson to load the bases with no outs.

Borst drew a one-out bases-loaded walk to tie the game at five before Doll launched a 2-1 pitch over the right field fence for a go-ahead grand slam to give Minot State a 9-5 lead after trailing 5-0 after four innings.

Doll led the Beavers at the plate with two hits and four RBIs, followed by Borst with two hits and three RBIs. Six other Beavers recorded one hit in the series-clinching victory.

Starter Wyatt Moore lasted 3.1 innings on the mound while yielding five runs, three earned, on six hits and striking out two Warriors.

Tannar Galey relieved Moore with one inning of one-hit work before Jack Gamba tossed 2.2 innings of one-hit relief with five strikeouts.

Jeremy Sylvester earned his first win of the season while tossing the final two innings, surrendering one hit and striking out two batters.

Minot State continues NSIC play next weekend, as the Beavers travel to Mankato, Minn. for a four-game series with Minnesota State. The Mavericks and Beavers will play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 24 beginning at 1:30 p.m. before playing a doubleheader on Sunday, March 25 at noon.