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MSU softball sweeps Montana State Billings in home opener

Alex Eisen/MDN Minot State senior pitcher Clarissa Ramirez winds up to throw a pitch in the second game against Montana State Billings on Sunday at Herb Parker Stadium.

Melting snow banks outlined the outskirts of Herb Parker Stadium Sunday afternoon, but that wasn’t going to hinder the Minot State softball team from kicking off its home campaign with two sizable wins, 7-2 and 7-1, over Montana State Billings.

Two complete games in the circle for a couple of seniors and timely hitting proved to be the difference maker over the duration of the nonconference doubleheader, as the Beavers (8-5) extended their winning streak to six games in a row. The Yellowjackets, on the other hand, dropped to 12-19 overall on the season.

“We are just hungry this season. We have been working so hard and this just sets the tone for the conference opener against UMary,” junior Tori Zimmermann said. “We are just pumped. Two wins, you can’t complain about it.”

MSU avoided going down early in game 1 against Montana State Billings by cutting down two runners at home plate in the first inning.

“Instead of being down 2-0 and having to battle, it’s still 0-0,” coach Bill Triplett said. “That was huge getting those two at the plate right away.”

In the bottom of the first, the Beavers struck first. A triple by sophomore Lauren Cowden set up an RBI single back up the middle by Zimmermann.

Minot State broke the game open in the second inning with five runs on five hits.

A slow roller by junior Marissa Dado, picked up by Montana State Billings pitcher Maddy Lincoln, plated a run to kick things off. That was followed by an RBI single by Cowden, a bases-loaded sacrifice fly for Zimmermann and junior Ashley Hill capped the offensive outburst with another RBI single.

“We started off hot,” Cowden said. “We had each other’s backs no matter what and we just all did our jobs. Two quality wins, I’m happy.”

The Yellowjackets scored their first run on Minot State senior pitcher Jenn Spencer in the top of the third inning on a two-out RBI single from Cameron Cassinelli. Spencer (4-3, 2.24 ERA), who went the distance and collected seven strikeouts, gave up a second earned run in the sixth inning on an RBI double.

The Beavers countered in the bottom half to score their seventh and final run of the game on a sacrifice fly from senior Rachel Burdette, which brought in senior speedster Jordan Grant from third. Grant reached third base on an infield hit, a passed ball and then stole third.

“We played about as well as we could,” Triplett said. “Defensively we were good, offensively we swung it pretty well and we ran the bases. The only thing I told the ladies is that we had too many backward Ks, which means you strike out not swinging. We didn’t protect the edges very well and we will work on that. But, other than that, it was a great doubleheader for us.”

Burdette’s bat powered a double to right center field to open the scoring in game 2. Freshman Jordan Branch and Grant scampered home in the process to give senior pitcher Clarissa Ramirez (3-2, 2.08 ERA) a two-run cushion after three innings.

As it would turn out, that’s all the run support Ramirez needed. Despite giving up 10 hits, she tossed the second complete game of the day for the Beavers and only allowed one earned run in the process.

“Ramirez was a little bit better today,” Triplett said. “She had more spin and that’s the first time we have just let her pitch. She has always been hitting and pitching. We haven’t used a designated player for her and today I just wanted her to concentrate on the strike zone and spinning the ball.

“She might not have been happy about not hitting, but Kyla Larson got into the lineup and got a big hit for us. But I thought Ramirez did well, just like Spencer.”

Getting the best look at the senior pitching tandem was catcher Zimmermann, who was behind home plate for both games.

“Jenn (Spencer) gets ground balls all day and (Ramirez) can spin it off-speed to keep them off balance,” she said. “We throw Jenn first and (Ramirez) second, and they both have their own strengths, opposing teams just can’t adjust to that.”

Grant, the lead-off hitter, set the table for her teammates early and often by going a combined 5-for-8 with four runs and three stolen bases across both games.

Lurking behind Grant in the batting order, Cowden took one for the team and extended Minot State’s lead to 3-0 on a bases-loaded hit by pitch in the bottom of the fourth. Cowden finished the doubleheader with a team-high five RBIs on just three hits.

The Yellowjackets lone run came the following half inning on an RBI single from Megan Dettling, and they could have even made it a one-run game if it wasn’t for the arm of freshman Skyla Neubauer.

After catching a fly out for the second out of the frame, the right fielder closed out the top of fifth inning by gunning down another runner at home – the Beavers third successful play at the plate for the afternoon.

To put game 2 out of reach, the Beavers tacked on four runs on six hits in the bottom of the sixth. Cowden picked up two RBIs on a double, Zimmermann added an RBI double and Dado came in off the bench to provide a pinch-hit RBI single.

“We call them crooked numbers,” Triplett said. “If you can put up more than one run in an inning in fast pitch softball, it’s great.”

Ramirez, who worked out of trouble throughout her outing and stranded eight Montana State Billings runners on base, closed out the contest with a clean 1-2-3 top of the seventh.

The Beavers start conference play against the University of Mary on Wednesday in Bismarck. The doubleheader was previously scheduled for Tuesday.

Alex Eisen covers Minot High School, Minot State athletics and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.

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