WAYNE, Neb. (MSU) – A weather-weary Minot State baseball team won a pitcher’s duel to start the day, but ended up settling for a split with Minnesota State, Mankato in an early-season battle of two NSIC title contenders on Sunday. Trevyn Badger won the first-game duel helped by a solo home run by Brent Riddle for the 2-1 margin. MSU Mankato bounced back to take the nightcap, 15-5.

 

GAME 1 | Minot State 2, Minnesota State 1

 

The Minot State Beavers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and never surrendered the advantage on the way to a 2-1 victory against the Minnesota State Mavericks on Sunday. Trevyn Badger (2-0) got the win for Minot State. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on two hits, allowing one walk and striking out four. In the batter’s box, the Beavers were paced by Matt Malone who went 3-for-3 on the day with a triple and an RBI. Brent Riddle furnished a standout day at the dish as well, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. The Beavers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Minot State scratched across a run off freshman Nathan Culley when Malone tripled in Derek Kay. The Mavericks then tied the ballgame at one before the Beavers came back to reclaim their advantage in the third inning. Minot State picked up a run on Riddle’s leadoff home run off of Culley, which brought the score to 2-1 in favor of the Beavers. The score remained 2-1 for the rest of the game, as Minot State held on for the win.

 

GAME 2 | Minnesota State 15, Minot State 5

 

Shane Kary and Matt Malone each collected two extra-base hits, but the Minot State Beavers fell to the Minnesota State Mavericks 15-5 on Sunday. Bryant Bagshaw (4-1) got the ball to start for Minot State and took the loss. Noah Balandran was a bright spot for the Beavers, coming out of the bullpen and throwing one inning, giving up one run on no hits, with no walks and two strikeouts. Kary’s two extra-base hits were the highlight of a 2-for-4 day, and included a double, a home run and an RBI. Malone made his contribution with two doubles, part of a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. Mark Ossanna also contributed for the Beavers, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding a home run and two RBI. The Beavers were trailing 1-0 in the second inning when they first put runs on the board. Minot State plated two runs off of Minnesota State pitching, one of which was driven in on a run-scoring double off the bat of Carter Paine. The Mavericks then rallied to score five runs and take a 6-2 lead before the Beavers got back on the board in the fourth. Minot State picked up a run on Kary’s one-out solo home run off of freshman Dylan Gotto, which tightened the Mavericks lead to 6-3. Minot State kept the Mavericks off the scoreboard before narrowing the gap to 6-5 in the fifth. The Beavers added two to their tally on Ossanna’s two-run homer to right. The Beavers were unable to get any closer, as Minnesota State added nine runs to their tally on the way to a 15-5 final.

 

Minot State (14-5 overall, 5-2 NSIC) was forced to hit the road because of bad weather and played what was scheduled as its home opener in Wayne, Nebraska. Minot State and Minnesota State, Mankato (14-5, 4-1) finish their three-game series today at Noon in Wayne, Neb.

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MINOT STATE HOCKEY-CELEBRATION

 

MINOT, N.D. (MSU) – The Minot State Athletic Department invites the public to join in celebrating the success of the Minot State hockey teams at a Championship Celebration Party on Tuesday, March 28, at 5:30 p.m. The Beavers’ ACHA Runner-up National Championship women’s hockey team and the Minot State men’s ACHA National Championship hockey team will be at the event to celebrate with the public. The event will be held in the main lobby at Ann Nicole Nelson Hall located off University Ave. W. on the Minot State campus. Light refreshments will be available. Both Minot State hockey team head coaches, Ryan Miner and Wyatt Waselenchuk, along with players from each team will be on hand to meet and speak to the crowd. Come celebrate the championship success of the Minot State hockey programs this Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at this special event at Ann Nicole Nelson Hall.

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WOLVES-WARRIORS

 

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 11 seconds to play after Kyle Anderson stole a pass by Draymond Green, and the Minnesota Timberwolves held off the Golden State Warriors 99-96 to keep things interesting in the wild Western Conference playoff standings. Jordan Poole gave Golden State the lead on a 3-pointer with 1:28 left — moments after Towns had connected from deep. Poole, who had a game-high 27 points, then secured a rebound on the other end. The Warriors had a chance with 9.9 seconds left but Stephen Curry couldn’t corral Poole’s errant pass, then Curry missed a contested 3 from the baseline just before the final buzzer. Towns had 14 points and five rebounds in his second outing following a 52-game absence with a strained right calf. The Warriors had their nine-game home winning streak snapped and missed a chance to boost their playoff positioning. A victory also would have clinched Sacramento’s first postseason berth since 2006. The Kings, coached by former Golden State top assistant Mike Brown, will try to end the longest playoff drought in NBA history Monday night at home against Minnesota.