Minot State rallied from a 3-0 fifth inning deficit in the second game for a 4-3 win and to go with a 4-0 victory in the opener to complete a Northern Sun Conference softball sweep over Wayne State Saturday morning at the Minot Air-Supported Dome in Minot, North Dakota. The host Beavers are now 19-13 and 6-5 in the NSIC while WSC falls to 9-25 and 4-7 in league play.
Both teams had eight hits in the opener but Minot State scored two runs in the first and another in the second for an early 3-0 lead on their way to a 4-0 shutout win.
WSC put runners on second and third with just one out in the first but could not score. The 'Cats had three hits in the second and left two runners on while having a runner thrown out at home plate. WSC had two on and only one out again in the sixth but could not score.
Natalie Arbizu and
Paiton Tornberg each went 2 for 3 at the plate to lead WSC.
Riley Holmberg,
Lauren Laudick,
Abby Husing and
Madison Gomez each singled.
Sophomore starter Sami Felt (3-12) suffered the pitching loss with relief help from freshman
Sophie Stuart.
The second game saw the Wildcats build a 3-0 lead but the host Beavers battled back and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning to rally for a 4-3 win.
The 'Cats opened the scoring in the first as Vidlak's RBI single brought home Holmberg (walk) for a 1-0 edge.
WSC added two runs in the fifth as Tornberg and Laudick had back-to-back RBI doubles giving Wayne State a 3-0 advantage.
Minot State came right back in the bottom of the fifth scoring three runs on three hits and one Wildcat error to tie the contest at 3-3.
The host Beavers then used a leadoff triple in the sixth followed by a RBI single to rally for the 4-3 win.
WSC outhit Minot State in the game 9-6. Tornberg and Laudick each went 3 for 4 with a double to pace Wayne State at the plate.
Hayley Murphy, Vidlak and
Natalie Arbizu each singled.
Sophomore starter
Grace Lucka fired a complete game in the loss, allowing six hits and four runs (one earned) with four walks and three strikeouts.
The Wildcats close out their current NSIC road trip Tuesday with a doubleheader at Southwest Minnesota State starting at 2 p.m.