MARSHALL, Minn. – Minot State earned its 12th victory in its last 14 games defeating Southwest Minnesota State 7-3 in game one of a conference doubleheader at Legion Field on Thursday.
 
The Beavers took an early lead in the top of the first on a two-run homer from Blake Gallagher and then added two unearned runs in the second to build a 4-0 lead.
 
MSU would add single runs in both the third and fourth innings to extend the lead to 6-0.
 
SMSU pushed across a single run in the fourth loading the bases with no outs behind singles by Owen Latendresse, Issac Nett and a walk to Andy Andresen. Caleb Gardow hit sac fly to score Latendresse, but a foul out and ground out ended a chance at a bigger innings.
 
The Mustangs cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fifth as Keenen Wenzel walked and moved to second on a one-out single by Max Kalenberg. With two outs, Nett came through with a clutch double over the left fielder's head for a two-run double.
 
MSU answered with its own two-out rally in the sixth as Ricky Apodaca stroked an RBI double to make the score 7-3.
 
SMSU would mount rallies in both the sixth and seventh inning, but couldn't come up with the big hit, stranding two runners in each inning.
 
SMSU, which finished game one with seven hits, left 11 runners on base. Nett closed the game 3 for 4 with two RBIs, while Robbie Smith, Kalenberg, Latendresse and Gardow each had one hit.
 
Latendresse, making his second career start, tossed a career-high 5 2/3 innings allowing seven runs (four earned) on 10 hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Sam Nascak retired all four batters he face in relief.