> Box Score

TUCSON, Ariz. – Southwest Minnesota State dropped its third straight game on Monday night, falling to Minot State 10-3 at the Tucson Invitational at the Kino Sports Complex.

After falling behind 5-0, SMSU (1-5) cut the deficit to 5-3 in the eighth inning, but the Beavers (1-3) pushed across five unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth to seal the victory.

Austin Stubbs led SMSU going 3 for 5 with a home run, a double and two RBIs, while Tanner Neale finished 2 for 4 with a solo home run. SMSU finished the game with 10 hits, but committed four errors.

Minot State broke a scoreless game in the bottom of the third scoring on a two-out balk, then plated three runs in the fourth and another run in the fifth to build a 5-0 lead.

SMSU started a comeback in the seventh as Stubbs blasted his team-leading third home run of the season to make the score 5-1. In the eighth, Neale slammed a solo homer, while later in the inning Stubbs ripped an RBI double to cut the deficit to 5-3.

The Beavers had the answer in the bottom of the eighth pushing across five unearned runs to make the score 10-3.

Mitch Wurm (0-1) started for SMSU and pitched seven solid innings, allowing five runs on eight hits, with seven strikeouts and one walk.

Southwest Minnesota State will have Tuesday off before returning to action on Wednesday with games versus Bemidji State and Minot State.