Submitted Photo Minot State centerfielder Brent Riddle makes a catch during the Beavers doubleheader against Bemidji State at Corbett Field on Tuesday. Bemidji State won the opener 5-1 and Minot State took the nightcap, 8-4. Photo by Sean Arbaut.

In the middle of frigid North Dakotan winters, the Minot State baseball team has been preparing for their return to the field.

The 2025 season of Beavers baseball was a tough one for the team. Minot State baseball head coach Sam Boisner is entering his fourth season leading the Beavers’ baseball program. In his first year in 2023, Coach Boisner set offensive single-season team records across the board. He broke the school record for home runs (89), hits (518), runs scored (388), RBIs (360), batting average (.321) and on-base percentage (.404). They ended the season with an overall record of 29-21 and were the fifth seed in that year’s NSIC Tournament.

In 2024, the Beavers baseball team suffered serious injuries through the season, setting them back and ending their season with a record of 15-34, missing the NSIC playoffs and placing 13th in the league.

Last season wasn’t much different. The Beavers started the season with a promising 5-4 record, but mid and late season troubles left the Beavers with only a slight improvement on their previous season. The 2025 season ended with a record of 17-32 overall and another missed playoffs. The Beavers’ struggles on the field the previous two seasons reflected on the conference’s assessment in the 2026 NSIC Coaches Poll where they ranked 13th with 44 points.

Despite their lableing as a season underdog, head coach Boisner feels confident in his team’s ability to break past everyone’s expectations.

“We have a good base of returners and a nice mix of new guys also,” said Coach Boisner of this season’s team in a release. “We are happy to have some guys back from injury that missed parts of last season. The team has put in a ton of work this fall, and we are very excited to go compete this spring.”

Minot State senior catcher Oscar Pegg is one such returning player set to make a lot of noise for the Beavers this season. Last year, Pegg was a heavy hitter for the Beavers, leading the team in home runs and RBIs and finishing the season with a .294 batting average, the third highest on the team.

“Oscar has been a leader for us on and off the field, always putting in extra work with his teammates,” Coach Boisner said in a release. “Oscar is a competitor and really enjoys competing with his team at practice and during the games. He has excelled in the classroom as an Exercise Science major, and we can’t wait to see what he accomplishes this spring on the field.”

Redshirt junior Ayden Sauerbrei is set to lead the Beavers defense on the mound this season. The right-handed relief pitcher led the Beavers last season in ERA and saves , will an 3.86 ERA, four saves and 30 total strikeouts in his 18 game appearances.

“During his time with our team, Ayden has proven himself to be an outstanding player who consistently delivers high-quality performances,” Coach Boisner said in a release. “In addition to his athletic contributions, he is a dedicated student-athlete excelling in his Physical Education major. Ayden possesses a great work ethic and high character; I speak for our entire team that we are all excited to see Ayden compete this season.”

On Friday, Jan. 30, the Beavers baseball team walked onto the field for the first time this season, not in Minot, but in Tucson, AZ to take on Adams State University in their season opener. That weekend saw the Beavers play four games, and though the Beavers fell 4-5 in extra innings, they proved they had the chops to make this season a competitive one. The Beavers then also dropped their second game of the season, this time to Emporia State University on Saturday, Jan. 31 in Tuscon, AZ. The Beavers played against Adams State University again on Saturday evening of the weekend and were able to secure their first victory of the 2026 season at 9-8. The Beavers dropped their last game of the opening weekend in their second bout against Emporia State in a close 12-13, ending their stint in Arizona with a 1-3 record to start the season.

Though the Beavers have had a rough start, Coach Bosiner believes that the team has a strong foundation that can help carry them through those tough opponents.

“Our strength will be our depth,” Coach Boisner said in a release. “We feel like we have a ton of guys that can contribute. That will serve us well as we get into conference play.”

The Beavers are just getting started with their 2026 season, and will be back on the field starting on Sunday, Feb. 22, as they take on Southwest Minnesota State University in a double header in Lincoln, NE. The Beavers will open up at home at Corbett Field for the first time this season on Saturday, Mar. 22, as they take on the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs