After allowing a lead to slip away late in the opener, the Minot State softball team wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice in the finale.

The Beavers scored six runs over the first two innings in Game 2 and the MSU pitching staff held Northern State to five hits in a 7-2 victory on Sunday, April 19, at Koehler Hall of Fame Field. The Wolves won the opener, 3-2, with a pair of runs in the fifth inning.

Minot State put up five extra-base hits in the opener, beginning with a two-run double off the bat of Mallory Hoogensen, who drove in Sara VanWickler and Taylor Smith with a shot to left field. Maizy Whitlow plated Minot State’s third run of the inning on an RBI groundout to second, allowing Isabelle Anderson to score from third.

The Beavers (28-18 overall, 13-9 NSIC) tacked on three more in the second inning. The first four batters in the inning all collected hits. Raivyn Millions led off with a single to center and Anna LaCount doubled to put runners on second and third. Smith brought in a run with a single to center. VanWickler doubled to score both Smith and LaCount to put Minot State in front 6-0.

Back-to-back doubles from VanWickler and Anderson led to another run in the fourth.

VanWickler finished 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. Anderson also collected two hits.

The Wolves (16-22, 8-14) got on the board thanks in part to a pair of errors by the Beavers in the fourth and added another in the fifth on an RBI single by Alicia Jeanson.

Sarah Misner picked up her sixth win of the season in the circle for the Beavers, pitching the first four innings. She allowed one unearned run on three hits, striking out two. Calley Olson and Taylor Kruser pitched the final three innings, allowing a run on two hits.

Northern State won the opener with a two-run fifth to take the lead for good. Trailing 2-1 entering the frame, Tevan Bryant tied the game with an RBI single to left, scoring Aune Boben from second. The Wolves took the lead on a wild pitch with the bases loaded and two outs. Kinsley Stover would go on later in the at-bat to strike out and end the inning.

The Beavers put runners on first and second with one out in the sixth, but Ellington Anderson struck out looking and Jorja Franzwa pinch hit for Whitlow and grounded into a fielder’s choice. They went down in order in the seventh to end the game.

Minot State had grabbed the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth. Following a pair of walks issued to VanWickler and Misner, Ellington Anderson brought both of them home with an RBI double to left center.

Ellington Anderson had one of Minot State’s three hits. Smith and Misner had the others.

Katie Newberry got the start and finished with a no-decision. She pitched the first four innings, allowing one run on six hits, striking out three.

McKenzie Wanner earned the win for the Wolves, allowing two runs on three hits over seven innings, striking out five and walking three.

The Beavers travel to Augustana for a doubleheader against the Vikings on Saturday, April 25, beginning at noon.