MINOT, N.D. -- The Minot State University baseball team used a cycle from Drew Behling to dominate 12-2 in Game 1 and three home runs by Jordan Williams to rout the University of Sioux Falls 13-3 in Game 2. The Beavers open NSIC play 2-0 with a doubleheader sweep on Saturday at Corbett Field. 

GAME 1 | Minot State 12, Sioux Falls 2
Junior Drew Behling put together a historic performance at the plate Saturday, hitting for the cycle to help propel Minot State over Sioux Falls 12-2.
 
Junior RJ Martinez (2-0) got the win for Minot State (3-3, 1-0). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on six hits, allowing two walks and striking out 10.
 
Behling completed his cycle in five at-bats, driving in five runs along the way. Junior Jordan Williams helped out for the Beavers, going 2-for-4 for Minot State with three RBIs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. An RBI triple from sophomore Kaiden Cardoso highlighted a two-run inning for Minot State.
 
The Beavers then held the Cougars scoreless before expanding their lead in the fourth inning. The Minot State offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Behling and a two-run single from Williams,  which brought the score to 6-0 in favor of the Beavers.
 
Minot State kept Sioux Falls without a run before building their lead to 7-0 in the sixth inning. The Beavers added a run on an RBI triple off the bat of Behling, scoring junior Declan Buckle from second.
 
Minot State kept the Cougars scoreless before their offense got things moving the next inning. MSU scored five runs in the inning, highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Behling,  bringing the Minot State advantage to 12-0. Sioux Falls put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Beavers still coasted to the 12-2 win.
 
GAME FACTS
» Martinez struck out a career-high 10 Cougars hitters.
» Behling drove in five runs for Minot State.
» Every Minot State starter reached base safely in the win.
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the seventh when it pushed five runs across.
» Martinez put together seven innings of two-run ball for the Beavers.
» Four Beavers had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Beavers out-hit the Cougars at a 14-6 clip.
» Minot State went 7-for-13 (.538) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers faced 26 Sioux Falls hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and four fly balls while striking out 10.
» The Beavers drew four walks from Sioux Falls pitching.
» Behling led the Beavers at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a double, a triple, a home run, and five RBIs.
» Sioux Falls was led offensively by freshman Zach Andreasen, who went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
» Freshman Drew Leonard led the Cougars pitching staff, throwing 0.2 shutout innings.

GAME 2 | Minot State 13, Sioux Falls 3
Junior Jordan Williams put together a stellar showing at the plate Saturday, hitting three homers to help power Minot State past Sioux Falls 13-3.
 
Junior Noah Myhre (1-1) started on the mound and picked up the win for Minot State (4-3, 2-0). The right-hander went 4.2 innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on two hits, allowing two walks and striking out seven. Freshman Trevyn Badger also made an impact on the mound for the Beavers, throwing one scoreless inning while allowing no hits, with no walks and three strikeouts.
 
Williams went 3-for-4 at the plate, supplementing his three home runs with six RBIs. Freshman Gunnar Kozlowitz added to Williams' awesome power-hitting performance by going 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Sophomore Kaiden Cardoso also chipped in for the Beavers, going 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk, and an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the second inning.  Minot State plated two runs when Williams left the yard with Cardoso aboard.
 
The Beavers then held the Cougars scoreless before expanding their lead in the fourth inning.  Minot State scored twice on Williams' two-run homer, which brought the Beavers' lead to 4-0.
 
Sioux Falls narrowed Minot State's lead to 4-3 before the Beavers stretched the advantage to 13-3 in the seventh inning.  The Beavers hit three home runs in the inning on the way to scoring nine runs. The score remained 13-3 for the rest of the game, as Minot State coasted to the win.
 
GAME FACTS
» Myhre struck out seven Cougars hitters.
» Minot State got a great power-hitting day from Williams, who reached safely with three extra-base hits.
» Williams drove in six runs for Minot State.
» Every Minot State starter reached base safely in the win.
» The Minot State pitching staff combined to strike out 14 Sioux Falls hitters.
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the seventh when it pushed nine runs across.
» The Beavers had control of the rest of the game after jumping ahead of the Cougars 2-0 in the top of the second.
» Minot State hitters hit five homers in the ballgame.
» The Beavers out-hit the Cougars at a 6-2 clip.
» Minot State went 3-for-7 (.429) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers limited Sioux Falls to just 1-for-5 (.200) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers faced 29 Sioux Falls hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and one fly ball while striking out 14.
» The Beavers drew seven walks from Sioux Falls pitching.
» Williams led the Beavers at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three home runs and six RBIs.
» Sioux Falls was led offensively by junior Zane Butts, who went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
 
UP NEXT
Next up for Minot State is a matchup on Sunday, Mar. 20 at 12 p.m. against the University of Sioux Falls at Corbett Field.