×

MSU softball knocks off No. 5 Humboldt State

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Senior Tori Zimmermann had five hits and Isis Cabral drove in four runs as Minot State defeated fifth-ranked Humboldt State 17-14 to earn a split of its first two games at the 2018 Desert Stinger Tournament at Majestic Park.

The Beavers survived a wild back-and-forth game with the fifth-ranked Lumberjacks to earn the first win for Dave Kivett as Minot State head coach.

Trailing 14-12 entering the top of the seventh inning, Minot State scored five runs to regain the lead and then held off Humboldt State to secure its first win of the 2018 season.

Lauren Cowden got things started for Minot State in the top of the seventh inning with a single and Zimmermann followed with a base hit to left field and both runners moved up a base on a Lumberjack fielding error.

Ashley Hill reached on an RBI fielder’s choice, which brought home Cowden and got the Beavers to within 14-13.

Pinch-runner Melissa Estrada stole second base and Cabral lofted a sacrifice fly that plated pinch-runner Sami Jo Henry to tie the game at 14-14 with one out in the seventh.

Julia Suchan put the Beavers ahead to stay when she roped a double down the left field line that plated Estrada giving the Beavers a 15-14 lead.

Kyla Larson pushed the lead to 16-14 with an RBI single and Minot State tacked on another run when Amanda Izzo was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Minot State, which improved to 1-1 on the season, jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Zimmermann and Cabral each blasted two-run homers to highlight the Beavers big inning.

Minot State tacked on four runs in the top of the fourth inning to extend the lead to 10-2. Hill hit a sacrifice fly, Cabral doubled in a run, Larson ripped an RBI double and Skyla Neubauer hit a run-scoring single to account for the Beavers runs.

Humboldt State rallied with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to climb to within 10-4 and then scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take an 11-10 lead.

Minot State would answer with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning to regain the lead. Cabral tripled to lead off the inning and scored when Suchan followed with a single up the middle. The Beavers then took a 12-11 lead when Larson tripled down the right field line.

The Lumberjacks responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 14-12 lead setting up the Beavers dramatic rally.

Minot State opened the 2018 season with a 6-1 loss to Concordia (Ore.) as the Beavers were limited to just one hit.

Neubauer picked up the Beavers lone hit against the Cavaliers and Zimmermann drove in the Beavers run.

Minot state will return to action on Saturday (Feb. 3) with games against Cal State Dominguez Hills and Notre Dame de Namur.

– Minot State athletics

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today