Minot State Beavers Softball Splits Road Series Against Wayne State Wildcats
The Minot State Beavers softball team wrapped up its final road series of the regular season with a hard-fought split against the Wayne State Wildcats on Saturday, April 25. Playing at the Wildcat Dome, the Beavers fell in the opener but rallied late in the nightcap to secure a 3-2 win, thanks to a clutch performance from Raivyn Millions.
A Late Rally Seals the Game Two Victory
The deciding moment of the second game came in the top of the seventh inning. With the score knotted at 2-2 and two outs already on the board, Raivyn Millions stepped up and delivered a go-ahead RBI single that proved to be the game-winner.
That hit capped off an inning full of pressure and execution. Brooke Hyde got things started with a leadoff double, followed by a textbook bunt single down the third-base line by Jorja Franzwa, putting runners on the corners with no outs. After Franzwa swiped second, the Beavers found themselves in prime scoring position.
Although Hyde was thrown out at the plate during a bunt attempt by Taylor Smith, Minot State capitalized on a Wayne State pitching change. Reliever Jadeyn Stahr walked Sara Van Wickler on four pitches and then hit Paige Kellogg, which forced in the tying run. Two batters later, Millions delivered the dagger.
Beavers Strike First
Minot State (29-21 overall, 14-12 NSIC) wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the finale. Smith opened the game with a walk, swiped second, and came home on a clutch two-out single from Van Wickler on an 0-2 count, giving the Beavers an early 1-0 edge.
That lead, however, didn’t last long.
Wayne State Responds With Power
The Wildcats (38-12, 18-8) answered in the bottom of the second when Reagan Dreilbelbis launched her 11th home run of the season — a team-leading mark — over the center-field fence off starter Sarah Misner.
Wayne State then took advantage of a rare Beavers fielding miscue in the third inning. With runners on first and second and one out, Maddie Scobee lined out to center, but Leah Chance hustled to third on the throw and later scored on a fielder’s choice for an unearned run that put the home team ahead 2-1.
Pitching Performances
Katie Newberry earned the win for Minot State, tossing 2 1/3 innings of relief while giving up just one hit, striking out three, and issuing one walk. Starter Sarah Misner went 4 2/3 innings, surrendering two runs (only one earned) on five hits with four strikeouts.
For Wayne State, Taylor Coleman took the loss after working 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while fanning six.
Offensively, Van Wickler and Franzwa each tallied two hits for the Beavers, while Jordyn Klein led the Wildcats with a 3-for-4 outing at the plate.
Game One: Wayne State Walks Off in the Sixth
The opening contest of the doubleheader belonged to the Wildcats, who edged Minot State 3-1 thanks to late-game heroics of their own.
With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Maddie Scobee broke the deadlock with a two-run double to left-center, plating Emilee Marth and Leah Chance. The two runners had reached base to start the inning, setting the stage for Scobee’s clutch hit.
Reliever Calley Olson came on for the Beavers and managed to limit further damage. Despite inheriting runners on second and third with no outs, she struck out Dreilbelbis, induced a pop-up from Lillie Timm, and got Haylee Weber to fly out, ending the threat.
Early Scoring in Game One
Chance had given the Wildcats their first lead of the day with a solo home run to left field on a 1-2 count off Beavers starter Kierra Fournier. Minot State responded in the top of the fifth when Maizy Whitlow drove in a run with a single to even the score.
Both teams finished with five hits in the opener, but Wayne State’s timely hitting made the difference.
Kennadi Borngrebe earned the win in the circle, going deep into the seventh inning while allowing just one run on five hits with 10 strikeouts. Stahr came in to record the save. Fournier took the loss for the Beavers after surrendering three runs on five hits over nearly six innings.
Closing Out the Road Schedule
With the split, Minot State concluded its six-game road trip with a 2-4 record and finished the regular season at 7-9 in away games.
The Beavers now turn their attention to the home stretch, with two conference doubleheaders left on the calendar. They will host Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday, May 2, followed by Sioux Falls on Sunday, May 3. Both series are scheduled to begin at noon at the Scheels South Hill Complex.
With postseason play looming, Minot State will look to ride the momentum from Saturday’s late-game heroics and build a strong finish on home turf as they prepare for what comes next in the NSIC.
