Alex Eisen/MDN Minot State freshman Kiera Shwaluk (right) slides into second base safely behind Northern State's Courtney Sjerven (7) in the second game of a doubleheader Sunday afternoon inside the bubble at Herb Parker Stadium.

In what was scheduled to be the final games played inside the air-supported dome at Herb Parker Stadium, the Minot State softball team managed to salvage a split Sunday afternoon in a non-conference doubleheader against NSIC foe Northern State.

Minot State (11-6) dropped the opener, 10-5, but rallied in Game 2 with six unanswered runs in a 6-5 eight-inning victory over the Northern State Wolves (8-10).

“A loss is a loss and we will learn from it,” MSU senior center fielder Lauren Cowden said. “So, I’m not sure the (Game 2 win) makes up for it. But, the (Game 1 loss) definitely started a fire under our butts like, ‘Hey, we need to pick it up and do better than that last game.'”

Trailing 1-0 in the first game after a Wolves’ RBI groundout in the top of the second inning, MSU sophomore Haley Hernandez cranked a two-run home run to center field in the bottom half to put the Beavers ahead, 2-1.

It was the first home run of the season for Hernandez and the second of her collegiate career. Also, it was a well-needed boost, as Hernandez came into the doubleheader hitting 5-for-22 (.227) with two RBIs.

“I haven’t been super on and seeing the ball well lately,” Hernandez said. “So, that really helped lift my confidence throughout the whole day today.”

A bases-loaded walk issued by MSU starting pitcher Laura Mendez to Northern State’s Jamie Fisher tied the score at 2-2 in the fourth. Then, the next batter, Sara Bendt, drove in two more runs with a two-out base hit to right field.

That ended the Mendez’s outing, leaving runners on second and third base. Relief pitcher Kylie Patrick cleaned up the mess with a strikeout to end the fourth inning.

Hernandez came through again in the bottom half with a two-out, full count slow roller that narrowly snuck past NSU pitcher Andrea Cherney for an infield RBI single.

The Wolves built its lead back up to 7-3 in the fifth with RBIs coming off a groundout, a fly out and an RBI double by Courtney Sjerven. Patrick was promptly replaced by Jordyn Staples, who got a pop out to limit the damage to only three runs.

“I didn’t think Kylie (Patrick) did a bad job, she was just a little high on some of her pitches and (strike) zone was getting tight on her,” MSU head coach Dave Kivett said. “And I think Jordyn (Staples) did a quality job and didn’t give up too many runs. It’s just the consistency of giving up walks and hit by pitches that can destroy a team.”

The three MSU pitchers in Game 1 issued five walks and two hit by pitches.

“We call those freebies,” Kivett said. “We can’t give up seven and expect to win a game.”

Sticking around with the bats, MSU plated two runs in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double by Alina Gonzalez and a wild pitch that Karlee Coughlin took advantage of to slide in safely before getting tagged, 7-5.

Northern State, however, eased away once more with a run in the sixth and two in the seventh to ultimately claim a 10-5 victory.

Game 2 got off to a shaky start for the Beavers, as Northern State jumped out to a 5-0 lead through the first two innings against freshman hurler Zoya Robbins.

RBIs for Gonzalez and Coughlin in the third inning, plus Randi Wright reaching base on an error to bring in another run in the fourth had MSU back in the hunt down 5-3.

That’s when Cowden stepped up with a timely two-out, two-run double to knot the score at 5-5 in the sixth inning.

“I just felt the dugout behind me the whole time,” Cowden said. “When I was in the box, that’s all I heard — my team. So, I just wanted to come up clutch for them. Glad I did.”

The Beavers also made two clutch defensive plays late in the game. Kiera Shwaluk kept the Wolves’ lead-off hitter in the sixth inning from reaching base by throwing out the batter at first base from right field. That was followed by the Beavers turning a double play in the seventh inning to force extra innings.

“The defense has been really good,” Kivett said. “They are getting better, more comfortable and more confident. They have been really solid behind our pitchers. I’m very pleased with where we are at, but we can continue to clean up some things like a routine throw or a small error.”

With an infield hit, Wright brought home the runner who started the top of the eight inning on second base (an extra inning rule). That marker was all the Beavers needed, despite Cowden nearly bringing in a few more runs on a bullet to second base that was caught.

Robbins (5-2 record) got the final three outs on a fielder’s choice, a pop up and a chopper back to the circle. The tying run was stranded on third base.

Both teams finished with eight hits and two errors in Game 2.

The Beavers head to St. Joseph, Missouri, this upcoming weekend for the Hyvee Classic. MSU will play six games in three days with two games each on Friday (March 22), Saturday (March 23) and Sunday (March 24).

NSIC play starts when they return. The Beavers will open the conference season with a doubleheader against rival U-Mary on March 26 in Bismarck.

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