ABERDEEN, S.D. – A brief two-day road swing culminates with a pair of big games for the Beavers at Northern State on Wednesday, as Minot State's softball team looks to maintain its spot as one of the NSIC's best.
Tied for fourth in the standings, the Beavers (13-11 overall, 8-4 NSIC) will look to do what the other top teams have done against the Wolves (18-16, 4-10): Win.
Northern State lost 7-of-8 to open the NSIC race playing Augustana, Minnesota State, Mankato, Winona State, and Concordia, St. Paul; all teams lumped into the top four with the Beavers who are tied for fourth with Winona State.
Minot State heads into the noon doubleheader on the road looking to rebound after a pair of losses Saturday at Augustana, and also looks to buck the recent trend of splitting NSIC twinbills with Northern State as the teams split last season and in 2021, their other most recent meeting.
Key will once again be consistent teamwork for the Beavers who have five regular starters hitting over .300 offensively, and who are also getting great work in the circle from all four pitchers.
Anna LaCount,
Brooklyn Morrison, and
Taryn Bennett lead the offense as LaCount is hitting .405 with 10 RBIs, Morrison is batting .356 with 2 home runs and 8 RBIs, and Bennet is batting .316 with a homer and 19 RBIs.
As for the Beaver pitchers,
Gabi Dawyduk and
Reegan Floyd continue to lead the way with 4 wins each, with Dawyduk boasting a 2.27 ERA and Floyd a 2.44 ERA.
They take on a Wolves team with solid numbers both on offense and in the circle as the Wolves are fifth in the NSIC hitting .321, and sixth in pitching – right behind the Beavers – with a 3.23 ERA.
Senior pitcher Lexi Chase leads the way on both sides as she is hitting .390 with 17 RBIs and is 6-5 in the circle with a 3.26 ERA.
Senior shortstop Clair Zbylut also has made a big impact offensively, hitting .371 with 4 homers and 28 RBIs, while freshman pitcher Mckenzie Wanner helps out in the circle with a 5-3 record and a 3.02 ERA.
The mid-week trip wraps up the short road swing for the Beavers who return home this coming weekend to host Concordia, St. Paul on Saturday and Winona State on Sunday in doubleheaders at SCHEELS Complex at South Hill. Action both days is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
