MINOT, N.D. -- Sara Van Wickler came through in the clutch, providing a game-changing two-run single to help lift the Minot State softball team to a 6-3 win in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader with Black Hills State at the MSU Bubble Invite on Saturday.

Led by stellar pitching all day long from Reegan Floyd, Jasmine Blizzard, and Kierra Fournier, the Beavers (2-2 overall) gave themselves a chance for the sweep but dropped the nightcap 1-0 to the visiting Yellow Jackets (2-2).

Minot State plays Providence at 10 a.m. on Sunday to wrap up the Bubble Invite, which features three more games following the Beavers's Sunday opener.

GAME 1 | Minot State 6, Black Hills State 3

MINOT, N.D. -- The Minot State Beavers fought back from down 3-2 in the fifth inning to knock off the Black Hills State Yellow Jackets 6-3 Saturday.

Senior Reegan Floyd (2-0) started in the circle and picked up the win for Minot State. The right-hander went six innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on nine hits, allowing no walks and striking out four.

Offensively, the Beavers were paced by junior Sara Van Wickler, who went 2-for-4 on the day with two RBI. Junior Taylor Smith put together a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 1-for-2 with a double, a walk and an RBI. Senior Abbey Kelley also chipped in for Minot State, putting together one hit in one trip to the plate while adding two walks and an RBI.
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Beavers put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the second inning. Minot State scored twice, with one run coming across on Kelley's single.

The Beavers lost the lead they built in the second, but got back on the board in the sixth trailing 3-2. The Minot State offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Van Wickler, which brought the score to 4-3 in favor of the Beavers. The score remained 6-3 for the rest of the game, as Minot State held on for the win.
 

GAME NOTES

» Minot State's highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed four runs across.
» Minot State went 4-for-12 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» The Beavers got three hits in six at-bats with the bases loaded.
» Minot State pitchers faced 31 Black Hills State hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and five fly balls while striking out five.
» The Beavers drew eight walks from Black Hills State pitching.
» Van Wickler led the Beavers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI.
» Black Hills State was led offensively by junior Lily Simmons, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
» Junior Malaya Coleman led the Yellow Jackets pitching staff, throwing 1.1 innings of two-run ball.

GAME 2 | Black Hills State 1, Minot State 0

MINOT, N.D. -- The Minot State Beavers were not able to notch a run against Black Hills State pitcher sophomore Laci Peskey on Saturday and were shut out 1-0 by the Yellow Jackets.

Junior Kierra Fournier (0-1) got the ball to start for Minot State and took the loss. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on six hits, allowing three walks and striking out three.

In the batter's box, the Beavers were led by junior Sara Van Wickler, who went 1-for-2 on the day with a walk.
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Black Hills State broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly to score the games lone run.

Minot State managed two chances with runners on third in the shutout, going a total of 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position. The Beavers last got a runner on third in the third, when senior Abbey Kelley made it 60 feet away from scoring with one out.

GAME NOTES

» Minot State pitchers limited Black Hills State to just 1-for-5 (.200) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers faced 28 Black Hills State hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and six fly balls while striking out three.
» Van Wickler led the Beavers at the plate, going 1-for-2.
» Black Hills State was led offensively by senior Ashlynn Pauwels, who went 2-for-3 with a double.
» Peskey led the Yellow Jackets pitching staff, throwing seven scoreless innings.

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