MINOT, N.D. — Minnesota State (18-12, 5-1 NSIC) and Minot State (17-13, 2-4 NSIC) faced off in a doubleheader on Saturday (March 28) at Scheels South Hill, resulting in a narrow loss for the Mavericks in the first game, followed by a hard-fought victory in the second.
Game 1 | Minnesota State 1, Minot State 2
In the first game, Minnesota State battled but came up just short, losing 2–1. Minot State struck first with a solo home run in the opening inning to take a 1–0 lead.
The Mavericks answered in the second. Ryanne Mellum singled to right field and later came around to score on a triple to right center from
Ireland Broderick, tying the game at 1–1.
Minot State regained the lead in the fifth with a triple and a run scored on a fielder's choice, making it 2–1. Minnesota State was unable to generate further offense, and the score held the rest of the way.
Maddie Oetzmann threw a complete game, allowing four hits and two earned runs across six innings while striking out five. Oetzmann worked through traffic throughout, holding Minot State scoreless in four innings.
Broderick led the offense with a triple and an RBI. Finley Anderson added a double and reached base twice via walks, while Mellum recorded a hit, scored the Mavericks' lone run, and added three assists defensively.
Game 2 | Minnesota State 3, Minot State 1
Minnesota State responded in game two with a 3–2 victory, using timely hitting and a big sixth inning to secure the split.
The Mavericks got on the board early as Chloe Brandt drew a walk and advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Hannah Tong followed with a single, setting up
Izzy Hycnar, who delivered an RBI single to right field to score Brandt and give MSU a 1–0 lead.
Minnesota State broke things open in the sixth. Hycnar led off with a double, and after a strikeout, Maddie Helin drove her in with a double of her own.
Avery Dorman kept the momentum going with another double to score Helin, pushing the lead to 3–1.
Minot State added a solo home run in the seventh to cut the deficit to one, but the Mavericks held on for the win.
Jorey Fry pitched a complete game, allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out five. Fry worked around seven walks and limited damage with key outs, finishing with 11 flyouts and five groundouts.
Hycnar paced the offense with three hits, including a double and an RBI. Helin added a double, an RBI, and a run scored, while Dorman contributed two doubles and an RBI.
Minnesota State continues NSIC play Sunday in Bismarck, N.D., with games scheduled for noon against the University of Mary.
