Sioux Falls’ Casey Sarh slides in safely to home in front of Minot State catcher Jacob McLean during the sixth inning of an NSIC contest at Corbett Field on Saturday, May 2. Mike Kraft/MDN

For the first time since 2023, the Minot State baseball team will play postseason baseball after being one of eight times to qualify for the NSIC Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Despite dropping their season finale against Sioux Falls, 11-9, at Corbett Field on Saturday, May 2, to snap a season-best eight-game winning streak, the Beavers punched their ticket to the NSIC Tournament by winning eight of their final nine and 13 of their final 15 games of the year. Minot State secured the No. 7 seed and will play No. 2 seed Minnesota State in the opening round of the double-elimination tournament on Wednesday, May 6, at 6 p.m.

Minot State (26-23 overall, 20-18 NSIC) nearly rallied late from a five-run deficit, plating three runs in the eighth. The Cougars committed two of their five errors on the day in the eighth inning. Nate Larsen advanced to first off an error at second base to lead off the inning and moved to third on a double off the bat of Jacob McLean. Jessen West scored Larsen from there with an RBI single to right and McLean scored when Noah Madas reached on a fielding error in left field. Jorey Anderson capped off the scoring with an RBI single to left.

The Beavers had one last chance in the ninth after Larsen tripled down the right field line with two outs. With the tying run at the plate, Sioux Falls’ Jack Richeson struck out McLean swinging to earn the save..

After jumping out to a 2-0 lead, Sioux Falls struck for five in the fourth to take the lead. The Cougars strung together four hits and drew three walks. Casey Sehr delivered a two-run double and Mitch Iliff and Brady Schafer drew bases-loaded walks in the inning.

The Cougars (25-24, 21-15) added two runs in the fifth, a run in the sixth and three more in the seventh.

West finished 3-for-3 with five RBIs and a run scored. Anderson, Hutchinson and Larsen each collected two hits. The Beavers finished with 13 hits as a team with six extra-base hits.

Dominic Vogel led the Cougars with a three-hit performance at the plate. Justin Johnson and Sehr each drove in a pair of runs.

The day before, the Beavers ran their winning streak to eight with a doubleheader sweep of the Cougars. Minot State walked off with a 4-3 victory in eight innings in the opener and completed the sweep with an 11-10 win in the finale.

Wyatt Toth drove in the game-winning win in the bottom of the eighth inning on a single to center field with the bases loaded, scoring Vinnie Gates. After Colton Bagshaw flew out in foul territory to open the frame, Gates and Madas singled to put runners on the corners. Cowen Meyer walked to load the bases and Toth ended the game with his RBI single.

Toth finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Williamson gave the Beavers a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth with a three-run home run off Brady Baur.

Minot State starting pitcher pitched into the eighth, going 7 1/3 innings. He allowed three runs – two earned – on five hits, striking out six and walking one. Conner Meldrim pitched the final 2/3 innings to pick up the victory.

Big innings highlighted the nightcap, with both the Beavers and Cougars logging a six-run inning. Minot State’s came first in the third to build an 8-2 advantage. The Beavers only needed three hits along with three walks and a hit by pitch. Sioux Falls secured the first two outs of the inning in order before the next seven Beavers reached base. Oscar Pegg and Williamson drove in a run each with RBI singles. West was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Larsen cleared the bases with a three-run triple to center.

Sioux Falls countered with six in the fifth to take a 9-8 lead, capped off by a grand slam off the bat of Sehr.

The lead was short-lived, as Minot State responded in the bottom half of the inning with three runs of its own to reclaim an 11-9 lead. West tied the game with a sacrifice bunt to score Pegg and Larsen followed with a two-run shot.

Larsen finished 2-for-3 with a home run, triple, five RBIs and a run scored. Pegg was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.