MINOT, N.D. – Minnesota State Moorhead softball took to the road for a Saturday afternoon affair with Minot State. The Beavers claimed both games of the NSIC doubleheader. 

Game One

A pitchers' duel would occupy the early innings of game one. Dragon starter Brynna Farman would only allow two hits with three strikeouts through three innings of work. MSUM would only manage two hits in the same span with neither team scoring a run. While Riley McKeever would secure a single to open the fourth inning, a double play would stall the Dragons again. 

Farman would hold the Beavers without a hit again in the home half of the fourth inning. Minot State would break the scoreless tie in the fifth frame, plating a run on one hit. The Beavers would add on to that lead in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs on two hits. MSUM would have one final chance at bat, but Minot State would secure a 3-0 victory. Farman was solid despite the loss, surrendering just five hits with a career-high eight strikeouts. 

Game Two

The Dragons would kick things off to begin game two as senior Teagan Pranchke led off the game with a single. Pranchke would eventually make it to third base with just one out. Later in the inning, Courtney Locke would drive the senior home with a single, putting Moorhead up 1-0. Minot State would answer, scoring three runs on three hits to take a lead in the home half. 

Moorhead would load the bases in the top of the third inning following hits from Pranchke and McKeever. Lexie Wilson would later work out a walk to drive in a run, cutting MSUM's deficit in half. In the ensuing at-bat, an RBI groundout from Andrea Garcia scored McKeever, tying the score at three runs. The Beavers would respond again, plating five runs on three hits to lead 8-3. 

Minot State would add another run in the fourth frame to push their lead to six runs. The Beavers would have a chance to end the game early in the fifth, loading the bases with two outs. However, freshman pitcher Morgan Daugaard would keep the Dragons alive with an inning-ending strikeout. Freshmen Melanie Spivey and Loie Moore would drive in a pair of runs in the sixth to bring MSUM within four runs. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Minot State would score four runs on two hits to extend their advantage to eight runs. Pranchke and Locke each had a pair of hits for Moorhead in the 13-5 loss. 

Up Next

MSUM (4-33, 2-12 NSIC) travels to Bismarck, N.D., for a doubleheader against UMary tomorrow at noon.