Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- A pair of big innings by Minot State spelled doom for the Minnesota State University Moorhead softball team on Thursday as the Dragons were swept by the Beavers, 4-1 and 9-1 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action at the Husky Dome in St. Cloud, Minn.

Minot State used a four-run fifth inning in the first game and a seven-run second inning in the second game to build leads.

"Right now one inning seems to be the difference in the games," MSUM head coach Kelsey Fehl said. "We are staying close in games and then our opponent will have big inning and build a lead. The key for us is to stay away from the big inning and  put together ones of our own."

In the first game, sophomore Brittany York hit a solo homer to account for the Dragons only hit against Minot State starter Mandy Greenberg, who leads the NSIC with a 0.90 ERA.

Freshman Morgan Nybo had a good outing in defeat for MSUM, giving up four earned runs in six innings, striking out four while allowing eight hits.
York's homer in the fourth-- her second of the year -- gave MSUM a 1-0 lead, an advantage the Dragons took into the bottom of the fifth.

Minot State tied the game in the bottom of the fifth, and with two out, Tiffany Friesen, one of the top hitters in the NSIC with a .454 average, belted a three-run homer off of Nybo to give the Beavers a 4-1 lead they would not relinquish.

In the second game, sophomore Taylor Huss was 1-for-2 with a homer and an RBI, while freshman Kristen Nordby was 1-for-2 with a double.

Sophomore Rachel Sannicandro was also 1-for-2.
Minot State scored two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead. Huss hit a solo homer, her first of the season, to bring the Dragons within 2-1. However, the Beavers broke the game open with seven runs in the bottom of the inning to build a 9-1 lead.

The Dragons threatened in the third when Nordby led off with a double and Sannicandro singled to the pitcher. However, two strikeouts and a fielder's choice ended the threat.

Freshman Katie Edison took the loss for MSUM, allow nine earned runs in two innings. Freshman Taylor Clifton pitched two scoreless innings of relief.

MSUM will hit the road for two more doubleheaders this weekend, both to be played in Sioux City, Iowa. The Dragons will face Bemidji State on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. and Minnesota-Crookston starting at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Both twinbills will be held at Morningside Little League Complex in Sioux City.