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Minot State’s softball team finally got the pitching it’s been lacking the last few games.

The Beavers entered Thursday’s Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader against Northern State having lost 11 of their past 12 games, conceding an average of 5.75 runs per game in the process.

MSU’s pitching and defense was much better on Thursday.

But its bats left something to be desired.

The Beavers tallied just two combined runs over as many games, and dropped consecutive 5-1 and 2-1 results at Herb Parker Stadium.

“We got the runners into scoring position. We just didn’t get the big hit,” MSU coach Bill Triplett said. “When you take the 4 and 5 hitters out of the lineup – (junior Sarah) Nicks and (sophomore Ashley) Hill – everybody else, the young kids, are expected to step up, and they’re getting better. We battled.

“They just need to keep their daubers up, stay positive and keep getting better everyday.”

Nicks hasn’t played since a Feb. 28 tilt with Minnesota Crookston, and Hill just recently hurt her ankle. In nine games played, Nicks is hitting .357 with seven RBIs while Hill was hitting a team-best .380 with 20 RBIs and five home runs entering Thursday’s contest.

MSU’s pitchers did everything in their power to compensate for their ailing lineup.

Junior Alyssa Cornejo pitched the nightcap – which stretched nine innings – and allowed just two runs while fanning 10.

“Ultimately my goal is to turn things around for us,” Cornejo said. “I want to be a team player and keep my team into it and just take it pitch by pitch.”

Classmate Jenn Spencer threw Game 1 and surrendered four earned runs in 6.2 innings of work.

“I really liked how her ball was moving,” Triplett said. “She kept the ball at the knee caps and got ground balls. It might have been as good as she looked all year in probably the worst conditions this year.”

A three-run sixth inning was Spencer’s undoing, as NSU senior catcher Macey Engel highlighted the inning with a two-run single that gave the Wolves a 3-1 edge. Junior right fielder Rachel Albright capped the game with a two-run double in the seventh to give the game its final tally.

“We were kind of up and down at the plate today,” NSU coach Kristi Villar said. “We had some kids step up and that was encouraging.”

Game 2 was a pitcher’s duel between Cornejo and NSU junior Missy Elkins.

“I thought (Cornejo) pitched really well that second game against us,” Villar said. “She had us on our heels a little bit.”

Elkins allowed just five hits in nine innings of work, and navigated through a two-on, no-out jam in the bottom of the ninth without allowing a run to shut the door.

“She made two good pitches to the first two hitters, but the one kind of blooped in, and then an error, and it was very encouraging for her because we’ve blown some leads this season, so it was nice to see us hold onto a lead,” Villar said. ” Give credit to her. She got the win for us.”

In the same inning, the Beavers had the option of bunting Cornejo with runners at first and second with nobody out, but Triplett elected against it.

Swinging away, Cornejo fell victim to the first of three consecutive pop outs to nullify MSU’s threat.

“We thought about it, but it’s a force out at third,” he said. “If there’s nobody on first and just someone on second we may have bunted. Cornejo has a chance to pop one and hit a gap. After Cornejo, you’re getting to the bottom of our order and it’s tough for those freshmen to step up.”

Engel retained her hot bat in the nightcap, and rocked a dinger to left in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie.

“Anytime you can win on the road in this league it’s always a good day,” Villar said. “We just did just enough offensively to win some for our pitching staff.”

The Beavers welcome Winona State for another Northern Sun doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m.

John Denega covers Minot High athletics, Minot State softball and general assignments. Follow him on Twitter @JohnDenega_MDN.

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