There was no lack of fight in the Minot State Beavers on Saturday but in the end, MSU just couldn’t slow down the visiting Sioux Falls Cougars enough.

Beavers made a strong charge late in the opener of an NSIC doubleheader against the Cougars at Corbett Field, only to fall 8-4, then traded runs early in the nightcap before Sioux Falls pulled away for a 10-4 win to complete the twinbill sweep.

The Beavers (13-20 overall, 8-17 NSIC) get little time to rest now as they hit the road for another NSIC doubleheader, playing at the University of Mary on Tuesday.

GAME 1: Sioux Falls 8,

Minot State 4

Junior Oscar Pegg went 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI for Minot State in an 8-4 loss to the Sioux Falls on Saturday.

Sophomore Jacob Thompson (1-3) got the ball to start for Minot State and took the loss. Sophomore Conner Meldrim was a bright spot for the Beavers, coming out of the bullpen and throwing one shutout inning, allowing no hits, with no walks and two strikeouts.

Offensively, the Beavers were led by Pegg, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a home run and an RBI. Senior Connor Hill compiled a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Junior Jake Orthner also chipped in for Minot State, putting together one hit in two trips to the plate while adding a walk and an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Trailing 8-0, the Beavers first put runs on the board in the fifth inning. Minot State got an RBI single from Orthner, scoring junior Shane Kary from second base.

The Beavers kept the Cougars off the board before narrowing the gap further in the sixth. which brought the score to 8-4 in favor of the Cougars. Hill had an RBI double, Michael Williamson singled in a run and Pegg’s solo home run capped the rally.

The Beavers were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.

GAME 2: Sioux Falls 10, Minot State 4

The Beavers fell to the Cougars 10-4 despite the efforts of senior Grant Gabbert, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.

Junior Anthony Disantis (2-2) got the ball to start for Minot State and took the loss. Junior Devin Marton was a bright spot for the Beavers, coming out of the bullpen and throwing one scoreless inning, allowing one hit.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Trailing 1-0, the Beavers first put runs on the board in the third inning. Minot State got an RBI single from senior Connor Hill, scoring junior Noah Madas from second base.

The Cougars broke the tie and re-took the lead heading into the fourth inning, when the Beavers got back on the scoreboard. Minot State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Gabbert, which brought the score level at 2-2.

Sioux Falls broke that tie and grabbed a 4-2 lead heading into the fifth, when Minot State narrowed the gap to 4-3. The Beavers notched a run on Hill’s leadoff home run off sophomore Johnny Checheris.

The Cougars expanded their lead to 7-3 before the Minot State offense got back in action, cutting into that lead in the sixth. The Beavers drove home a run on Gabbert’s one-out solo home run off Checheris, tightening the Sioux Falls lead to 7-4. The Beavers were unable to get any closer, as Sioux Falls added three runs to their tally on the way to a 10-4 final.