TOPEKA, Kan. – The Minot State softball team ended up hard-luck losers in a pair of 1-run contests on Monday at the Washburn Invitational, falling 7-6 to Newman (Kan.) as the Beavers comeback came up short, then losing 3-2 to Emporia State (Kan.) as Minot State couldn't fend off a late rally by their foes.
Minot State (7-6 overall) looks to bounce back strong with two more games at the Washburn Invitational on Tuesday, playing Central Oklahoma at 10 a.m., then closing out the 6-game tournament against Fort Hays State at 2 p.m.
Newman 7, Minot State 6
TOPEKA, Kan. – Minot State rallied for four runs in the top of the sixth, then got within one in the top of the seventh only to see the tying run get stranded at third base in a 7-6 loss to the Newman Jets in the Washburn Invitational.
Freshman Sarah Misner (0-1) started and took the loss in the circle for Minot State. Junior Calley Olson was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going 2.1 shutout innings while allowing one hit, walking two and striking out one.
Sara Van Wickler and Anna LaCount each had 3 hits to lead the Beavers offense, and LaCount added 2 RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers got on the scoreboard first, starting in the second inning. Junior Mallory Hoogensen put Minot State on the board with a leadoff home run off freshman Maddie Rae. The homer was the first collegiate home run for Hoogensen.
The Beavers lost the lead they built in the second, but got back on the board in the sixth trailing 7-1. The Minot State offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of junior Anna LaCount, which brought the score to 7-5 in favor of the Jets.
Minot State held the Jets off the board before narrowing the gap to 7-6 in the seventh as Van Wickler and Paige Kellogg each had a double in the rally, but with runners and second and third with one out, the Beavers could not push home the tying run as the ballgame ended with that seventh inning rally falling short.
GAME NOTES
» The Beavers got three-hit games from both junior Van Wickler and LaCount.
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed four runs across.
» Minot State left 15 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» The Beavers out-hit the Jets at a 12-8 clip.
» Minot State pitchers faced 33 Newman hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out four.
» The Beavers drew six walks from Newman pitching.
» Van Wickler led the Beavers at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double.
» Newman was led offensively by junior AJ Borja, who went 1-for-2 with two RBI.
» Rae led the Jets pitching staff, throwing five innings of two-run ball.
Emporia State 3, Minot State 2
SILVER LAKE, Kan. -- The Minot State Beavers took a 2-1 lead into the sixth inning but could not hang on and fell 3-2 to the Emporia State Hornets on Monday at the Washburn Invitational.
Junior Calley Olson (0-1) came out of the bullpen for Minot State and took the loss. Senior Jasmine Blizzard was a bright spot for the Beavers, starting the ballgame and throwing five innings, giving up one run on four hits, with one walk and two strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beavers got the scoring started early, putting two runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning with the game still scoreless. Minot State plated two runs when freshman Sarah Misner left the yard with junior Taylor Smith aboard. The Beavers were unable to hold the lead, as Emporia State scored three times over the remaining six innings to grab the 3-2 win.
GAME NOTES
» Minot State's highest-scoring inning was the first, when it pushed two runs across.
» Minot State pitchers limited Emporia State to just 1-for-6 (.167) with runners in scoring position.
» Minot State pitchers faced 29 Emporia State hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out three.
» Misner led the Beavers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
» Emporia State was led offensively by freshman Kinsey Perine, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
» Senior Gracie Rabe led the Hornets pitching staff, throwing two shutout innings.
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