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Beavers celebrate win over Concordia, St. Paul
Sean Arbaut (Arbaut Photography)

Softball

Beavers begin postseason play against Northern State on Wednesday

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – After a strong regular-season on the diamond under first-year head coach Sal Rodriguez, the Beaver softball team is prepared to see if they came make a run at the NSIC Tournament Title.

Minot State's postseason journey begins Wednesday with a first-round match-up against 10th-seeded Northern State at 2:30 p.m. The winner advances to the tournament quarterfinals to play 2nd-seeded Concordia, St. Paul on Thursday at 3 p.m.

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For the 7th-seeded Beavers (22-18 overall), the opener is a rematch against a Wolves team (25-23) that Minot State swept during the regular season on the road.

Gabi Dawyduk, named to the All-NSIC 2nd Team on Tuesday, provided one game winner as her 2-run double in the top of the 8th inning gave Minot State a 3-1 win to start the teams' doubleheader.

Dawyduk then picked up the win in the circle in the nightcap as Minot State completed the sweep with a 10-6 victory that saw Brooklyn Morrison, who was named to the All-NSIC 1st Team on Tuesday, go 3-for-3 while Dawyduk and Paige Kellogg also had 3 hits each in the win for the Beavers. Minot State racked up a season-high 17 hits in the victory.

The Wolves were led by pitcher Lexi Chase, designated player Avarie Eagle, and outfielder Ashley Fauske this season as all three earned All-NSIC 2nd Team honors.

Chase struck out 10 and was the hard-luck 3-1 loser in her first meeting with Minot State while Fauske was 4-for-6 in the doubleheader against the Beavers and Eagle was 1-for-1 in a pinch-hitting role.

Wednesday's game is a must-win for both teams as the 10-team NSIC Tournament moved to a single-elimination format this year.

With a win, the Beavers would face the Golden Bears (37-13) at 3 p.m. on Thursday. Concordia, St. Paul boasts the NSIC Freshman of the Year in third baseman Alexis Monty, and the Coach of the Year in Bob Bartel.

The No. 2 seed in the tournament, the Golden Bears were swept by the Beavers in Minot less than a month ago, snapping a 12-0 start to NSIC play for Concordia, St. Paul.

Anna LaCount, named to the All-NSIC 2nd Team on Tuesday for the Beavers, provided the walk-off win in the bottom of the 8th with her RBI sacrifice fly for a 2-1 Minot State victory, then LaCount and Lauryn DeGuzman had 3 hits each in a 7-5 nightcap win for Minot State.

Monty, who led the NSIC with a .497 batting average, went 3-for-8 against the Beavers while outfielder Clara Heislen and catcher Danni Sharum – who both earned All-NSIC 2nd Team honors – each went 1-for-4 in both games against Minot State in the teams' previous meeting in mid-April.

Left-handed pitcher Erica McCullough, named to the All-NSIC 2nd Team as well, was the hard-luck loser in the 2-1, 8-inning Beaver victory.

The NSIC Tournament continues through Saturday with the semifinals on Friday, with the Beavers side of the bracket slated to play at 2:30 p.m., and the NSIC Tournament title game at noon on Saturday.
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Players Mentioned

Gabi Dawyduk

#22 Gabi Dawyduk

P
5' 10"
Junior
R/R
Brooklyn Morrison

#23 Brooklyn Morrison

INF
5' 5"
Junior
L/R
Lauryn DeGuzman

#6 Lauryn DeGuzman

UTL
5' 1"
Redshirt Junior
L/R
Paige  Kellogg

#24 Paige Kellogg

INF
5' 5"
Freshman
R/R
Anna  LaCount

#18 Anna LaCount

C
5' 4"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Gabi Dawyduk

#22 Gabi Dawyduk

5' 10"
Junior
R/R
P
Brooklyn Morrison

#23 Brooklyn Morrison

5' 5"
Junior
L/R
INF
Lauryn DeGuzman

#6 Lauryn DeGuzman

5' 1"
Redshirt Junior
L/R
UTL
Paige  Kellogg

#24 Paige Kellogg

5' 5"
Freshman
R/R
INF
Anna  LaCount

#18 Anna LaCount

5' 4"
Freshman
R/R
C