MINOT, N.D. -- The Minot State University softball team closed out the regular-season home schedule with a sweep of Upper Iowa by the scores of 11-3 and 10-7 at the South Hill Softball Complex on Sunday.
The Beavers improve to 19-19 overall and 12-12 in conference play with the pair of wins and hold a strong grasp on the 10th and final NSIC Tournament spot with eyes on the postseason. Upper Iowa falls to 11-28 overall and 7-19 in NSIC play with the losses.
GAME 1 | Minot State 11, Upper Iowa 3 (5 innings)
The Beavers took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed from there on the way to an 11-3 victory over the Upper Iowa Peacocks in Game 1 on Sunday.
Junior Trinity Valentine (W, 10-8) got the win for Minot State. The right-hander went three innings, giving up one run on two hits, allowing two walks, and striking out two.
Offensively, the Beavers were paced by senior Isis Cabral, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a home run and three RBI. Sophomore Jamie Odlum furnished a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 3-for-3 with two RBI. Senior Julia Suchan also contributed for Minot State, putting together two hits in two trips to the plate while adding three RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom of the first inning with the game still scoreless. Minot State scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run homer from Cabral.
The Beavers then lost some of their lead, expanding on their advantage in the second inning after the Peacocks cut it to 3-1. The Minot State offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a one-run flyout off the bat of Cabral, which brought the Beavers lead to 7-1.
Minot State kept Upper Iowa scoreless before expanding their lead to 11-1 the following inning. The Beavers bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a two-run single off the bat of Suchan. Upper Iowa put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Minot State still coasted to the 11-3 win.
GAME NOTES
» Minot State got three-hit games from both sophomore Jazmin Karunungan and Odlum.
» Suchan and Cabral drove in three runs each for the Beavers.
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the third when it pushed four runs across.
» Minot State took a 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Five Beavers had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Beavers out-hit the Peacocks at a 14-5 clip.
» Sophomore Lauryn DeGuzman stole two bases in Sunday's game.
» Minot State went 6-for-11 (.545) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers faced 21 Upper Iowa hitters in the game, allowing three ground balls and five fly balls while striking out five.
» Cabral led the Beavers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs.
» Upper Iowa was led offensively by sophomore Emily Draeger, who went 1-for-1 with a triple and an RBI.
» Freshman Abby Buckman led the Peacocks pitching staff, throwing 1.1 shutout innings.
GAME 2 | Minot State 10, Upper Iowa 7
Sophomore Maggie Mercer racked up four RBIs to help power the Minot State Beavers past the Upper Iowa Peacocks 10-7 on Sunday.
Junior Trinity Valentine (W, 11-8) got the win out of the bullpen for Minot State (19-19, 12-12). The right-hander went three innings, giving up one run on three hits, allowing one walk, and striking out three.
Mercer went 2-for-4 with a double in addition to her four RBI for the Beavers. Senior Isis Cabral put together a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Junior Trinity also chipped in for Minot State, putting together two hits in two trips to the plate while adding a double and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 1-0, the Beavers first put runs on the board in the second inning. Cabral came across to score the lone run of the inning for Minot State and get them on the board.
The Peacocks then scored three runs to retake their advantage heading into the third inning, when the Beavers responded by getting back on the scoreboard themselves. Minot State managed to push across two runs in the inning, which brought the score to 4-3 in favor of the Peacocks.
Upper Iowa built their lead to 6-3 before the Minot State offense got back to work, overtaking the Peacocks to grab a 7-6 advantage in the fifth. The Beavers bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a two-run single off the bat of freshman Lenora Watson and a two-run single from Mercer.
Minot State held the Peacocks scoreless before their offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. bringing the score to 10-6 in favor of Minot State. Upper Iowa put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Beavers still held on for the 10-7 win.
GAME NOTES
» Cabral picked up three base knocks in the game for Minot State.
» Mercer drove in four runs for Minot State.
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the fifth when it pushed four runs across.
» Four Beavers had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Beavers out-hit the Peacocks at a 13-11 clip.
» Minot State went 7-for-23 (.304) with runners in scoring position.
» The Beavers got two hits in four at-bats with the bases loaded.
» Minot State pitchers limited Upper Iowa to just 2-for-13 (.154) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers faced 39 Upper Iowa hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and four fly balls while striking out five.
» Mercer led the Beavers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs.
» Upper Iowa was led offensively by junior Sydney Wilcox, who went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.
The Beavers travel to Bemidji State on Saturday, May 8 for the first of a two-game series at 12 p.m., and then closes out the regular season on Sunday, May 9 at the University of Minnesota Crookston with a doubleheader at 12 p.m.
