Minot State Beaver Softball

Minot State Finishes Season 3rd at Regional

SIOUX CITY, Iowa” Minot State University avenged a loss to Dickinson State in the Dakota Athletic Conference by knocking out the rival Blue Hawks at the NAIA Region III tournament Thursday, but the Beavers were eliminated 2-1 in nine innings by Morningside College.

Morningside moves on to play Dana College in today's championship.

We did a a good job and played well the whole tournament, MSU head coach Bill Triplett said. We're a little sad that its overbecasue we really wanted to advance to nationals but on the other hand, we are really looking forward to next year. We are young and this team came togetherdown the stretch and in the postseason.

The Beavers built a 4-0 lead on the Blue Hawks as Janessa Penner went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and Lana Dubois knocked in two runs while going 2-for-3 with a double. Kayla Mitchell was solid, giving up eight hits and two runs in seven innings.

It was a big win for us, not just because it was Dickinson but because it was one step closer to the national tournament, Triplett said. It was an intense game with lots of big plays which included Sasha Ward's throw ffrom cneterfield nailing a Dickinson runner at the plate as well as an ejection of Dickinson State Head Coach, Guy Fridley.

The second game proved to be a pitcher's duel as Mitchell and Mustang's starter matched innings. The Beavers took a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning on an RBI by Mitchell scoring Penner. The Mustangs, however, scored one in the bottom of the seventh, partly due to three miscues in the inning by the Beavers.

We had some trouble handling the ball, but it wasn't a make-or-break for our season because it was just one run and we still had a chance to win in extra innings, Triplett said. Kayla had a great tournament and pitched out of trouble. It is just too bad we couldn't get a couple more runs for her.

Mitchell went 81/3 innings giving up eight hits, two runs, struck out four and walked eight. Baumert gave up one unearned run with five strikeouts and no walks in nine innings pitched.

MSU ends its season at 29-14.

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Minot State Still Alive at Region III

Lundeen attempts to lay down a bunt

SIOUX CITY, Iowa The Minot State University softball team is still alive after one day of action at the NAIA Region III Tournament.

The Beavers began their day with a 4-3 win over Doane College (Neb.). Immediately following that game, MSU fell to Dana College (Neb.) 3-0 before battling back with a 12-2 win over Northwestern (Iowa) in six innings.

While MSU head coach Bill Triplett said the Beavers are happy to still be alive, he said missed opportunities cost them an undefeated day.

We just had a game in that second game where we hit quite a few balls hard and they went right at someone, Triplett said. When we got runners in scoring position, we just couldn't get them in.

The Beavers take on conference rival Dickinson State today at noon with the loser being eliminated from the tournament.

We've got our work cut out for us.Triplett said. It's do or die now. There are four teams left and four teams are gone. We believe we will beat Dickinson and that's half the battle right there. It should be a fun one to watch.

In their tourney opener, the Beavers battled from down 3-0 to score one in the fifth and three in the sixth to get the win. Lana Dubois drilled a two-run double to tie the game. Kayla Mitchell got the win in the first game and took the loss against Dana, despite giving up just a single earned run.

Lana's really hit well for about the last 3-4 weeks, Triplett said. She's getting a little more disciplined and patient at the plate. She's been coming up in situations with ducks on the pond and she's been driving them in. When I moved her to the clean-up spot several games ago, she didn't really feel comfortable, but now she is and she's been an RBI machine.

Errors sunk the Beavers against Dana, as MSU committed four errors and mustered just four hits against Dana starter Cassie Lager.

The MSU bats got going in the team's final game of the day against Northwestern. Janessa Penner, Kayla Mitchell, Alicia Penner and Dubois each stroked three hits in the game. Dubois drove in four runs, while Janessa and Alicia Penner drove in two each.

Minot exploded for eight runs in the sixth inning in support of starter Paige Ortega. Ortega allowed just three hits over six innings for the Beavers.

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Janessa Penner Chosen Region III Player of the Year

 

Minot State shortstop, Janessa Penner, has been chosen Region III player of the year. Penner will now be eligible for all-american honors which will be announced May 20th.

"She had a great year and deserves the honor and recognition", stated Coach Triplett. "Janessa played a major role in our success this year and I think it would be great if she ends up being selected to the all-american team. With her achievements and stats, I don't think they can leave her off that team. If it were up to me, she'd be number one on that list too".

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Beavers Place Second at DAC Tournament

Christine Filson gets to the bag just ahead of the Jamestown runner

Minot State University staved off elimination twice, but fell in the championship game to Dickinson State at the Dakota Athletic Conference postseason softball tournament Sunday at Hillcrest Softball Complex.

The Beavers defeated Valley City State 9-4, eked out a 3-2 win over Black Hills State in eight innings before losing to Dickinson 3-2. MSU will await pairings today to see its first-round match up at the Region III tournament that begins Wednesday at Sioux City, Iowa.

(The championship) was a nail-biter all the way, MSU head coach Bill Triplett said. We had the tying run on in the seventh but couldnt push it across.

The Beavers had outstanding pitching throughout the day as Kayla Mitchell earned the win against Valley City State, giving up just five hits and making one mistake a grand slam home run by Krystal Hathaway. MSU Paige Ortega tossed a five-hit gem, holding Black Hills State to single runs in the first and fourth innings. Orgeta and Shannon Murray were both solid against Dickinson, but it was Murray who held the Blue Hawks scoreless over the final three innings giving the Beavers a chance to win late.

We did it with pitching and defense all day, Triplett said. Paige threw a nice game against Black Hills and Murray was very good in relief against Dickinson. We thought about pitching Mitchell, but our plan was to throw Paige and Shannon if we got to the Dickinson game. We have to come right back on Wednesday.

At the plate, Lana Dubois and Molly Lundeen had the hot bats as Dubois hit two home runs and knocked in five against VCSU, while Lundeen was 3-for-4 with a homer and a triple against VCSU and was 3-for-4 against BHSU.

Molly is really starting to turn on the ball, Triplett said. Molly and (Christine) Filson made big strides over the weekend. Lundeen had a great tournament.

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Minot Wins 2 of 3 in First
Day of DAC Tournament

Tracee Tesch takes off for second

Minot State University got outstanding pitching from Kayla Mitchell as she won a pair of games to help keep the Beavers alive at the Dakota Athletic Conference softball tournament Saturday at Hillcrest Softball Complex.

Mitchell fired a two hitter as the Beavers defeated Valley City State 4-2 in their first game of the tournament. Her battery mate, Lana Dubois, powered a two-run, walk off home run in the seventh to provide the game winner. MSU's Molly Lundeen drove home the other two runs for the Beavers, including a big hit scoring Alicia Penner in the sixth.

It was a pitchers duel the whole way, MSU head coach Bill Triplett said. We battled back after being down 2-1.

In the second game, the Beavers dug themselves a big hole as Black Hills State scored one run in the first, two in the second and another in the third to build a 4-0 lead. The Beavers scored three in the top of the seventh, but could not get the tying run across. MSU's Paige Ortega suffered the loss, while BHSU's Karissa Norte went six strong innings in the win. The Yellow Jackets Jessica Clark earned a save.

We were down four-zip and couldn't get anything done, Triplett said. We hit into hard luck all day.

Mitchell was again solid, this time over nine innings as the Beavers and Jamestown College battled into extra innings with MSU taking a 2-1 win in nine innings to stave off elimination. MSU and JC each scored a single run in the fourth and Mitchell and counterpart Justine Rechenmacher matched zeros until the Beavers plated two in the top of the ninth.

Jamestown played good defense the whole game, they threw the leather at us. They made five or six unbelievable catches, Triplett said.

MSU plays Valley City State today at 10 a.m. in another loser out game. The winner faces the loser of the Dickinson State-BHSU semifinal at 3 p.m. with the winner of that game advancing to the championship.

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ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM ANNOUNCED

Minot State Places Four on ALL-DAC Team with Penner MVP

Janessa Penner

Kayla Mitchell

Alicia Penner

Sasha Ward

Post-Season Awards: Most Valuable Player: Janessa Penner, Minot State Most Valuable Senior: Chelsa Carley, Mayville State Pitcher of the Year: Sara Jane Webster, Dickinson State Freshman of the Year: Sara Jane Webster, Dickinson State

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Penner's Metamorphosis

Minot State University’s Janessa Penner takes a cut from a soft-toss pitch from
teammate Kayla Mitchell during practice Wednesday at South Hill Complex.
Penner, a sophomore, is one of the top hitters in the Dakota Athletic Conference and
will help lead the Beavers into this weekend’s DAC tournament in Jamestown.

It wasn’t like Minot State University sophomore Janessa Penner wasn’t a solid player last year. Quite the contrary as she was one of the top hitters for the Beavers and patrolled the outfield from center.

A year later and Penner has become one of the best players not only in the Dakota Athletic Conference, but in the country. All amidst two big changes as she is now the team’s starting shortstop and has added some newfound power.

“It has been more mental than anything,” Penner said about both changes. “I played (shortstop) on my club team back home, so I had a bit of experience. But I actually never have had as much power as I have now.”

Penner, from Morden, Man., ate up opposing pitchers throughout the season. She is the leader in total bases (3.719 per game), is No. 2 in triples (.281 p/g) and hits (1.875 p/g), No. 4 in slugging percentage (1.875 p/g) and runs scored (1.406 p/g), No. 6 in home runs (.313 p/g) and No. 9 in runs batted in (1.281 p/g) — in the NAIA.

“To tell you the truth, I did and nobody believed me,” MSU head coach Bill Triplett said when asked if he saw the power in the normally slap hitting Penner. “Even Maynard Sandberg, a Beavers’ supporter and our PA announcer wasn’t sure. I told him that she would hit .500 and 10 of them would get out of the park.

“She reminds me of Brian Reile, a guy that I played with in college who was one of the best hitters I know. They have the exact same short swings. If you showed video of them side-by-side, you would think that Janessa would have to be his daughter. She has a short, compact swing, is really quick, gets to everything and the ball just explodes off her bat.”

While Penner believed she could become a better hitter, she wasn’t sure she had the kind of power numbers that she has put up. The transition from a slap hitter — in which the batter is moving as the ball is put in play — to a stationary hitter was a little difficult.

“I moved my feet a lot when I slapped and now I keep them planted. That was probably the hardest thing,” she said. “I still slap a few times when I am struggling a bit. I got back to that.”

That translates to a couple at bats this season as Penner hasn’t gone through much of a slump. She has hits in 28 of 32 games played and has only 11 games where she was held to just a single hit. She has 20 games where she has at least one extra base hits and in 10 games this season has multiple extra base hits.

“For most players in this league, 30 hits would be a great season,” Triplett said. “Janessa has 30 extra base hits. She is a special player.”

The increase in power also comes from a change in her offseason workout regimen.

“I worked out religiously in the offseason and I feel more comfortable at the plate and a little more powerful,” she said. “I had a friend who is a personal trainer and we worked together. I did some weight work and core work. After seeing the results, I will definitely do it again this year.”

But while her offensive numbers stand out, Penner has been equally effective in her move to shortstop. As the anchor on the infield, short can be a demanding position, but Penner has transitioned nicely this season, heading into this weekend’s play with just 12 errors in 32 games.

“It was a little harder to figure out at first,” she said of the defensive move. “But its really fun. I feel like I am more into the game playing there. The other infielders have really helped me out making adjustments. I feel a little more comfortable each time out.”

“She still has some footwork things we are working on. She has a tendency to go to one knee like she did in centerfield,” Triplett said. “But when we worked out in February and she had a chance to work out, I loved her range. She tends to play a little deeper than I would like, but she has such a cannon that she gets away with it. Even when she has a bobble, she gets outs because she has a great arm.”

Penner and the Beavers begin play Saturday at the DAC postseason tournament in Jamestown. The tournament was moved back a day due to weather. MSU begins with Valley City State at 10 a.m. While the Vikings are the No. 7 seed in the tournament, Triplett warns the opener will be tough.

“Valley is not a seventh place team. Their stud pitcher (Krystal Hathaway) missed some games and has thrown some shutouts lately, so we will have our hands full,” he said. “We want to win (the tournament) and we know that we have play well. We don’t know if we are in the regional, we think we are because we are rated fourth, but we don’t know.

“We think we have the team to win it and that’s what we are trying to do.”

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ROLE REVERSAL

Alicia Penner slides safley into third vs. Dickinson

Minot State University softball team forced some drama with a sweep of two games yesterday in Dickinson. The Blue Hawks ended the drama with pair of wins of their own Sunday.

DSU pounded 23 hits and scored14 runs to capture the Dakota Athletic Conference regular season title, winning 9-1 and 6-1 over MSU in Dakota Athletic Conference softball at South Hill Complex.

The key for Dickinson was getting early runs in both games.

“They did that to us (Saturday) and jumped out on us early and set the tone. That’s what we did (Sunday), we set the tone,” DSU head coach Guy Fridley said. “Softball is such a quick game, it goes so fast and we jumped on them early.”

Likewise, the Beavers struggled to score runs early, dug themselves sizeable disadvantages and could not come up with the timely hit.

“That was the key. It changes everything for us. We are kind of a running team and when we get behind a few runs, it's hard to stay super aggresive and waste outs.” MSU head coach Bill Triplett said. “Plus, we made a few mistakes and eerytime we did, they made us pay.”

The game decided the DAC championship as the teams came into the day’s play tied for the lead, putting extra pressure on DSU as they need the sweep to win the regular season championship.

The Blue Hawks freshman Sara Jane Webster was solid on the mound earning two complete game wins, giving up just the single run in each, a total of 12 hits, while striking out eight in game 1 and 10 in game 2. Webster was able to work out a bases loaded jam with a strikeout in the fifth inning of game one and the sixth inning of game 2.

“Our freshman was a stud,” Fridley said of Webster. “The plan was to go with her and (someone else) in game 2. But as long as she had it going and stayed warm, let’s just stay with it. She got the job done and I can’t be happier for her.”

The Beavers stranded seven in game 1 and five in game 2 as they couldn’t get a key hit.

“The big hit just wasn’t there for us,” Triplett said. “We got ducks on the pond all day. (Webster) is a good pitcher and we battled her and got the bases loaded or second and third, but we didn’t get the one big hit. She had great stuff and was hitting the corners, not walking people.”

Dickinson, meanwhile, had key hits in both games. In game 1, Danielle Abrahamson and Webster had key singles driving in runs to give the Blue Hawks a 3-0 lead. Nikki Marcoux and Jody Lentz made it 5-0 with back-to-back solo home runs in the third. In game 2, Abrahamson drew a bases loaded walk in the first inning to give DSU a 1-0 lead and drive in two with a single in the second, helping the Blue Hawks to a 4-0 lead after two. Abrahamson finished with five runs batted in in the double header.

“We talked about (bouncing back) after (Saturday’s) game, our back were against the wall,” Fridley said. “We had to get two, they didn’t — they only had to grind out one. We said we will see what type of team we are about.”

The Beavers pitching duo didn’t match Webster on the mound as game 1 starter Paige Ortega gave up six earned runs on 10 hits in seven innings, while game 2 starter Kayla Mitchell was touched for nine earned on 13 hits.

“I’ve been getting more and more confidence in Kayla and Paige each time out, but they weren't quite as sharp today asa they were yesterday,” Triplett said. “Our defense let them down a little bit too. It wasn’t their day and it wasn’t Minot State’s day.”

The DAC playoffs begin Saturday at Jamestown with the Beavers playing Valley City at 10;00 a.m.

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Minot State Sweeps Two at Dickinson

MSU ace, Kayla Mitchell, releases a pitch for the Beavers

The Lady Beavers traveled to Dickinson on Staurday trailing the Blue Hawks by two games in the standings. When they returned, they were in first place of the DAC tied with Dickinson but having beaten them head to head two of two. The Beavers won the first game 12-6 and capped of the afternoon with a 4-3 win in game 2.

Janessa Penner, Alicia Penner and Lana Dubois led the way for the Beavers in game one as all three had three hits. Janessa Penner hit her 10th home run of the year as well as a double and a single. The shortstop also scored 3 runs and drove in three. Freshman firstbaseman, Kira Peturson hit also hit a round tripper for the Beavers while Sasha Ward drove in two runs with a double.

Kayla Mitchell went the distance on the mound for MSU as she and her teammates came from behind to score 8 runs in the 7th inning to put game one away.

In game two, Paige Ortega went all the way for the victory as she outdueled DSU's Sara Jane Webster for the win, 4-3. "Paige pitched really well. She got lots of ground balls and our defense bakced her all the way."

Lana Dubois had the first RBI of the game as her single drove in Alicia Penner who had reached on a single in the first. The Beavers scored 3 more in the 6th when Mitchell walked, Alicia Penner reached on an error, and then Dubois popped out. Lundeen then singled scoring Sam Medcalf who was running for Mitchell. Coach Triplett then put on the double steal and the Dickinson catcher threw the ball into centerfield as neither the shortstop or the second baseman covered second base for the throw scoring Penner from third and Molly Lundeen, who never stopped running as she scored all the way from first on the play.

"Those were two big wins for us," commented Coach Triplett. "Dickinson is one of the top teams in the country and Webster is right up there as one of the top pitchers. Anytime we can beat a team like that on their field, we are happy. At least we've given ourselves a shot to win the conference at home tomorrow and that's all we asked for when the day season began."

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Beavers Split A Pair at Mayville, Dubois goes 4 for 4 in Game 1

Peturson rounds second

The Minot State University softball team made a big comeback to top Mayville State in the opener of their doubleheader Wednesday, but fell short in a second comeback attempt in the nightcap.

The Beavers scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning to win game 1 by a 7-4 count, but fell to the Comets 8-6 in the second game.

That was a big comeback for us, MSU head coach Bill Triplett said. The pressure was on. We stepped up and got the big hits and got the come-from-behind win. These girls are never out of it, not matter how many they're down.

Lana Dubois led the way, going 4-for-4.

In the second game, the Beavers gave up five runs in the third inning, as they were stung by three walks and three errors.

The Beavers have a big weekend upcoming, as the travel to play Dickinson State in a Saturday doubleheader before playing host to the Bluehawks Sunday.

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MSU Softball Announces Signing

The Minot State University softball team has signed catcher/infielder Lindsey Landles of Winn-ipeg. Landles is in her second season playing for Three Rivers Community Coilege in Pine Bluff, Mo.

We're very happy to have Lindsey joining us next year, MSU head coach Bill Triplett said. She's got a solid stick and has gotten lots of experience playing for the Winnipeg Lightning over the years as well as her two years in Missouri.

Landles joins pitchers Bree Bartholomew and Deanna Mitchell and infielder Kylee Thiesen as MSU signees this year.

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Beavers Sweep Softball Awards

MSU shortstop Janessa Pennerand pitcher Kayla Mitchell

Minot State University's Janessa Penner and Kayla Mitchell earned players of the week honors for the week of April 14 tot he 20th as they were selected the Dakota Athletic Conference Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week.

Penner, a sophomore from Morden, Manitoba hasn't let up on the throttle throughout the season batting .591 with a gaudy 1.364 slugging percentage in helping MSU win five of six games last week. For the week, Penner was 13-for-22 with a double, five triplets, two home runs and four runs batted in. The speedy leadoff hitter for the Beavers has hit safely in all but one of Minot State's 26 games this year.

Mitchell, a juniorfor Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, picked up a pair of wins in helping the Beavers to the 5-1 week. Mitchell pitched two complete games, allowing three earned runs on four hits with 11 strikeouts in 14 innings. During the span, the righthander walked only two.

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BEAVERS TAKE FOUR STRAIGHT FROM JAMESTOWN

Tracee Tesch slides under the tag as she steals second base vs. Jamestown Sunday

Minot State put some space between themselves and Jamestown over the weekend with an impressive four game sweepof teh Jimmies. Getting a sweep over a conference opponent is always nice. Getting said sweep over the team closest to you in the standings is even better.


Minot State accomplished that twice over the weekend as they finished off a home-and-home series with a pair of Dakota Athletic Conference wins over Jamestown College Sunday at South Hill Complex. The Beavers had taken two at Jamestown Saturday and completed the solid weekend with a come-from-behind 4-2 win in Game 1 and a 10-1 win in Game 2.


“These were huge wins,” MSU junior Kayla Mitchell said. “Jamestown was right with us and they are a quality ballclub. This is big for us.”


Mitchell had a big hand in both wins. In Game 1, she fought off two solo home runs by JC’s Courtney Wong, getting some help from a big sixth inning by the offense, to earn the win on the hill. In the second game, she went 2-for-2 with two doubles, two runs batted in and three runs scored. “My offense is coming around. Since (the Beavers preseason trip to) Arizona, I have come on,” she said.


The Beavers trailed 2-1 much of the game as MSU opened with a manufactured run in the bottom of the first only to see Wong drill home runs in the top of the second and fourth innings.


“I knew that I had to keep the ball down because of the wind and I made the two mistakes,” Mitchell said, referring to a gusty south wind that blew straight out to center. “But I was mad I made the mistake to the same hitter.”


While the wind made it for a hitters’ park, Mitchell felt it actually helped her. She finished with 10 strikeouts in a complete-game five hitter.


“I noticed in warmups that the curve ball was moving quite a bit and I stayed with it most of the game,” Mitchell said. “I think the wind actually helped add a little movement on the ball. We went with the curve and they chased it.”


But Mitchell was being matched inning by inning by Jimmies’ Justine Rechenmacher. Rechenmacher gave up just the one run through six innings.


“I don’t know if the wind had any affect on the pitchers,” MSU head coach Bill Triplett said. “I watched the two of them (Saturday) on a relatively calm day and they were actually tougher yesterday. They both are solid and getting better each time out.”


MSU looked like they had the tying run score as Sasha Ward looped a ball into short left with Janessa Penner on third and two outs in the bottom of the fifth. However, it was ruled that Ward was out of the batter’s box when she made contact, resulting in the third out. MSU didn’t dwell on that play, though, scoring three in the sixth as Alicia Penner, Ashley Goudy and Tracee Tesch all came up with RBIs in the inning.


“We came though,” Triplett said. “The kids didn’t get down because of the call. They fought through that and came back with a big inning to get the win.”


Mitchell finished off the Jimmies in the seventh with three strikeouts, setting down 11 of the final 13 JC batters, six on strike outs.


The Beavers didn’t waste much time in capitalizing on momentum in game 2, getting three runs in the bottom of the first. Janessa Penner stroked a double to lead off the inning and her and Ward scored on Mitchell’s first double. Mitchell was also driven in by Lana Dubois’ ground out. MSU put up two more in the third as Dubois traded places with Mitchell as both smacked doubles. Molly Lundeen, who finished with three hits in two games, plated runner Nicole Koropas to give MSU a 5-1 lead. The Beavers finished things off with a five-run fourth that included triples by Janessa Penner and Sam Medcalf and a two-run home run by Alicia Penner.


“We put some different players in and they came through,” Triplett said. “Sam Medcalf had the triple and Rachael Matthews had a single.”


Janessa Penner continued to beat up opposing pitching with five hits and three runs in two games. MSU’s Paige Orgeta was steady after a shaky first inning, earning the win with a three-hitter, striking out five and walking two in five innings.

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Minot Splits at Valley City

Ortega Throws Shutout

Paige Ortega pitched a two-hit shutout and Janessa and Alicia Penner hit two home runs each as the MSU Beaver softball team topped Valley City 6-0 in game one at Valley City on Wednesday. Valley City bounced back to take game two by the score of 7-1.

Both Penners hit a solo shot in the first inning and both added a two-run shot later in the game as they drove in all six for the Beavers. Head coach Bill Triplett said "the pitching and defense was the key in the opener as Ortega shut down Valley City. The Beavers turned two double plays, Ortega threw strikes and the defense was error-free."

The Beavers fell in the second game as VCSU ace Crystal Hathaway struck out 12 on the way to a 7-1 win. "She'a a good pitcher, said Triplett. She's thrwon two no-hitters this year and if you don't lay off her rise ball and go to the opposite filed on her, she is tough to beat. We beat her 3-1 last week but she's a top-notch pitcher.

The Beavers were without their number one pitcher, Kayla Mitchell, as she was rested due to inflamation in her forearm. "We need to be careful and rest her her till the swelling goes down and she's painfree. Hopefully, she's ready to go against Jamestown this weekend", said Triplett.

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Penner goes BACK TO BACK as DAC Player of the Week

Minot State University sophomore softball player Janessa Penner is raking in the awards nearly as regularly as she is raking hits on the diamond.

Not only was Penner named the Dakota Athletic Conference player of the week for the week of April 7-13, she was also named NAIA Player of the Week.

During that stretch, Penner went 8-for-11 and drove in nine runs in three games. She batted .727 with a gaudy 1.818 slugging percentage while hitting four home runs and scoring 10 runs. She was also successful in all three of her stolen base attempts for the Beavers.

MSU head coach Bill Triplett said that even though Penner's power numbers are eye-popping, that isn't the only part of her game that's awesome.

She's putting up numbers that are unbelieveable, the thing is she is probably one of the best bunters I've ever seen, Triplett said. She can put it down and you can't get her unless it's a pop-up. Even though she's cranked out seven home runs, she doesn't try to hit the home run or abandon the bunt. She mixes up her game with the bunt and it makes her even tougher to defend.

For the second time in as many weeks, Penner was named DAC player of the week. Last week, the Morden, Man., native helped MSU to a 5-1 record while collecting seven extra-base hits. She went 16-of-21 at the plate, scoring 11 runs and driving in 10 RBI. She also went 8-for-8 on stolen base attempts.

Triplett said it is rare for a local athlete to get a national honor.

I think it's awesome, he said. It's very, very rare for anybody from any sport to get a national award. It's quite an honor.

Despite getting all the individual recognition, Triplett said Penner is about getting wins.

It's all about team with Janessa, he said. It doesn't matter whether she's 1-for-20 or 20 for her last 20, she's a great teammate and fierce competitor"

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Minot State Takes Three of Four vs. Black Hills and Valley City

The Minot State softball team took three of four games over the weekend, sweeping two from Valley City State and splitting a pair of contests with Black Hills State.

The Beavers defeated VCSU 5-1 before winning a tight 3-2 contest Sunday. After falling to BHSU 5-4 Saturday, the Beavers avenged the loss with a 9-1 trouncing Sunday.

"Three out of four was good, we were hoping to get four," MSU head coach Bill Triplett said. "We beat ourselves that first game. That first run that got scored got on via walk and hat's been the story when (Paige) Ortega pitches. She's pitched with bad luck this year but has also put way too many people aboard via the walk. We had a couple infield errors that cost us a runs. Outside of that, we played really good ball all weekend."

Kayla Mitchell continued to be salty on the mound for the Beavers, winning three games for MSU over the weekend.

"She had a great weekend," Triplett said. "She got wins in all three games, she was 3-for-3 in one of the games with the bat. She's just a real good ballplayer."

Janessa Penner continued to rake for the Beavers. Penner had at least two hits in every game and finished the weekend with 10 total hits, including a home run.

Bishop Ryan grad Molly Lundeen had two hits and scored a pair of runs in the first game Saturday.

"Molly had some bit hits," Triplett said. "Shannon Murray had the opportunity to pitch again. She throws strikes and she's pushing Ortega for that No. 2 spot."

The Beavers are back in action Wednesday when they travel to Valley City. On Saturday, they will travel to Jamestown and on Sunday, Jamestown will play in Minot.

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Penner Chosen NAIA National Player of the Week

Not only was Minot State's Janessa Penner named the DAC Player of the week,
the lefthanded hitting speedster was honored today by also being named the Region III
player of the week as well as the National NAIA softball player of the week.

"To be chosen for this awrdd is really an honor", said Minot State Head Coach Bill Triplett. "It covers the whole nation so that's really something. She deserved it with the way she's been playing"!

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MSU's Penner Named DAC Player of the Week

Minot State University sophomore shortstop Janessa Penner was named the Dakota Athletic Conference softball player of the week for April 7-13.

Penner batted .727 with a 1.818 slugging percentage as tje Beavers won two of three games over the week. In the three contests, she was 8 of 11 with 4 home runs, nine RBI's one walk and 3 for 3 on stolen bases.

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Beavers Complete 3 Game Sweep of Mayville

Lana Dubois hit a 3-Run Home Run for the Beavers

Hitting was contagious Monday at the South Hill Complex and with the three game sweep over Mayville, the Beavers have won eight of their last nine and stand at 11-5 overall and 3-1 in Dakota Athletic Conference play.

For a game and a half, the batters on the Minot State University softball team passed the hitting bug back and forth between each other.

Late in the second game, the Mayville State hitters caught the fever, nearly erasing an MSU 10-run lead. But MSU's battery combo of Kayla Mitchell and Lana Dubois snuffed out a Comets late-inning rally with a strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out double play and the Beavers held on to sweep the Comets 9-0 and 15-12.

While MSU's bats were dominant early, the Beavers head coach Bill Triplett said the Beavers got lackadaisical late in the second game. The Beavers had built a 14-4 lead after four innings.

“We got way ahead and relaxed,” he said. “We weren't sharp mentally and that causes physical mistakes.”

The Beavers were sharp all the way around in the first game. Starting pitcher Mitchell gave up only four hits and worked out of a couple mini-jams to earn the shutout win.

The MSU offense didn't wait to get going, scoring eight runs in the first two innings.

Dubois drilled a 3-run homer in the first and the Beavers batted around in the second, scoring five runs.

Mitchell and both Janessa and Alicia Penner stroked RBI hits in the second.

“I'm very happy with the runs we've put on the board the last three games,” Triplett said. “The defense (in the second game) is the only thing I'm disappointed with. When you get a team down, you have to step on the team. We let them back in.”

After winning by the 8-run rule in five innings in the opener, MSU hitters continued the momentum into the second game.

MSU scored multiple runs in each of the first four innings to take a commanding 14-4 lead.

Dubois rapped an RBI single in the first and Mitchell cleared the bases with a double in the second inning.

While the top of the order continued to produce, it was the bottom of the order that sparked the MSU offense in the nightcap.

No. 9 hitter Molly Lundeen was 3-for-3 with 4 RBI and provided a diving catch in right field. Fellow sophomore Ashley Goudy was 4-for-4 in the No. 7 spot, scoring four runs.

“I like having a couple of leadoff batters at 8 and 9 for Janessa Penner,” Triplett said. “Molly got some key hits and (No. 8 hitter) Sam Medcalf got some runners over. (The bottom of the order) did a great job.”

Janessa Penner continued her power outburst in the second game. She went 3-for-4 and blasted a moon shot home run in the bottom of the fourth to give Minot its biggest lead at 14-4.

MSU game 2 starter Pagie Ortega struggled at times, but Triplett said the MSU defense put Ortega in some tough spots. The Beavers committed four errors in the second game.

“It wasn't her fault,” Triplett said. “Paige did a fine job. Out of those 12 runs, I'd guess only three were earned.”

The Beavers are in action Saturday when the travel to Valley City to play Valley City State and Black Hills State.

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MSU's Murray Tosses Three Hit Shutout over Mayville

Shannon Murray

Shannon Murray got the start on the mound for the Beavers and she made the most of her performance as she shut out the Mayville Comets 8-0 in a game shortened to 6 innings due to the 8-run rule. A single in the first, one in the second and another in the 6th were the only hits for the Comets.

Janessa Penner continued her hot hitting as she singled twice, walked once and scored 3 runs for the Beavers. Kayla Mitchell also had a single and a double and two runs scored ans Sasha Ward had a singe and two runs scored as well. Alicia Penner reached on an error and scored and had a single later in the game for MSU.

"Shannon threw strikes and used her defense. We played errorless ball and it's really fun to play behind a pitcher that is pounding the strike zone like Shannon did. . With Mitchell and Ortega going yesterday and again tomorrow, Shannon proved to us that we can count on her as another pitcher. She did a great job", stated Minot State Coach Bill Triplett.

The Beavers will host Mayville for two more games tomorrow with the first one starting at 4:00 p.m.

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MSU Sophomore Janessa Penner Pounds Four Home Runs in Two Games as Beavers Split

Minot State University pitcher Kayla Mitchell had three hits, batting two runners in
Saturday as the Beavers took on Black Hills State at the South Hill Complex.

Minot State University’s Janessa Penner probably won’t move into the four spot in the batting order.

She did, however, hit like a clean up hitter Saturday.

Penner, the team’s leadoff hitter, stroked four home runs — six hits total — and drove in nine runs to help the Beavers earn a split of two games against Black Hills State in Dakota Athletic Conference softball Saturday at South Hill Complex. MSU lost Game 1 7-5, before rebounding in Game 2 12-8.

“I felt pretty good in warm ups,” Penner said. “But it was tough to stay warm out there. I wasn’t expecting (to hit home runs.)”

It was the DAC opener for the Beavers who are now 8-5 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

Penner went 3-for-4 in Game 1 with two home runs, a single, three runs batted in, two runs scored and a stolen base from her lead off position. In Game 2, she also went 3-for-4 with two dingers and finished with six RBIs and three runs scored.

“Jenessa Penner had a career all in one day,” MSU head coach Bill Triplett said. “I have been telling you how good of a hitter she is. She can lay down the bunt and be a slap hitter if she needs and she can hit ropes. She has the best of both worlds.”

Penner’s biggest hit might have been in a losing effort in Game 1. She hit a two-run homer to the opposite field as a part of a three-run seventh inning that fell just short of a rally. The runs, however, ignited the Beavers’ offense for the second game.

“I think we did feed off that. It carried over,” she said of the late rally. “We had some momentum from the first.”

“The team never quit,” Triplett said. “We kept battling and got the tying to the plate on two different times in the seventh. That made a big difference for the second game.”

Neither game was a pitcher’s duel as cold weather affected both pitching staffs. In Game 1, BHSU started Jessica Clark earned the win despite giving up five runs and eight hits. MSU’s started Kayla Mitchell gave up 10 hits and seven runs, but stranded 12 Yellow Jackets’ runners as just about every inning BHSU had baserunners.

“I felt so bad for Kayla and Pagie (MSU Game 2 starter Paige Ortega), but we need innings,” Triplett said. “It was tough to throw (Saturday).”

Ortega was shaky in the first three innings of the second game, but shut down the Yellow Jackets’ offense over the final four. She gave up six runs in three innings, but settled down to give up just two over the final four. In all, Ortega gave up eight runs, seven earned, and 10 hits, while striking out four.

“Paige battled,” Triplett said. “She was OK. I thought she pitched better late in the game.”

The Yellow Jackets (7-6 overall, 6-1 DAC) broke open Game 1 with a run in the third and three in the fourth. Karissa Norte and Brittany Montgomery each had run scoring singles in the inning. BHSU added two insurance runs in the seventh with as Danielle McGrath reached on a single and later scored on a wild pitch. Kim Flaman plated Autumn Berg with a two-out double to give the Yellow Jackets a 7-2 lead.

MSU countered in the bottom half of that inning with a triple by Lana Dubois and a flare single by Molly Lundeen before Penner’s second blast. MSU’s Sasha Ward reached on a bunt single with one out, but Clark worked out of the inning, inducing two straight fly outs.

“It was very important to get that second game,” Penner said. “(BHSU) was undefeated coming in so we knew that we needed to get the second one. We came out and got on them early.”

Penner, of course, had a hand in that as she reached on a bunt single in the bottom of the first. Ward beat out an infield single next and Mitchell drove in Penner with a single to right. Alicia Penner drove in Ward with a fielders’ choice to give the Beavers a 2-0 lead.

“We played from ahead instead of behind. That made a big difference in the second game,” Triplett said.

BHSU scored three in the top of the second inning, but MSU countered with four in the bottom. Lana Dubois and Christine Filson each singled and both were brought home on Janessa Penner’s third homer of the series. Ward then singled and came home on a single by Mitchell. All of the damage was done with two outs in the second. Penner’s final homer, a ball that hit the top of the fence and bounced over, made it 11-6 after three innings.

Along with Penner, Mitchell, Ward and Tesch all had two hits for the Beavers in Game 2. Mitchell added two RBIs, while Dubois and Lundeen each drove in a run.

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Snow and Poor Field Conditions
Wipe Out Dakota State Series

Re-scheduled to play 2 on April 24th
at Madison, SD at 1:00 and 3:00 pm.

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Minot State Avenges Earlier Loss as Penner and Peturson Go Yard

Janessa Penner and Kira Peturson

BILLINGS, Mont. — Minot State University softball wanted to get another crack at the University of Great Falls (Mont.) after losing to the Argos during a preseason tournament in Arizona by the score of 11-10. The Beavers made the most of their second chance. MSU pounded out 11 hits and scored 11 runs in defeating UGF 11-2 in NAIA softball nonconference action in Billings, MT on Wednesday.

The Beavers also played an exhibition game against MSU-Billings to begin the day.

“It was good to have that exhibition game to begin with,” MSU head coach Bill Triplett said. “MSU-Billings is a very good team in NCAA Division II so it was played as an exhibition. We booted the ball around a little and they made us pay for that but that's what good teams do. In the second game, Great Falls was a team that we wanted to play again and measure improvement over the first time we matched up with them. We had a very nice performance and got the convincing win. It was a big win for us because we are done until the conference season now. Things are starting to fall in place."

The Beavers (7-4 overall) opened the game on a big note as leadoff hitter Janessa Penner hit a solo home run, a line shot to right-center that left the park in a hurry. Great Falls countered with a first-inning leadoff homer of their own as Erica McAlmond tied it at one. From there, however, MSU poured it on, scoring four in both the fourth and seventh innings.

“We got a lift from Janessa right away, but they hit one in the bottom so it was 1-1,” Triplett said. “We really battled every inning and (Kayla) Mitchell threw strikes and shut them down”

Mitchell earned the win for MSU on the hill, but Triplett was also pleased with Paige Ortega who pitched in the first game.

“Ortega pitched the first game and corrected a lot of the things she did wrong in Arizona so we were happy with both starters today,” Triplett said.

Kira Peturson also hit a two-run home run for MSU, while Christine Filson and Suzy Paradine each had two-run doubles. Lana Dubois finished with two hits, including a triple for the Beavers.

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Beavers Are 6-4 on Arizona Trip

Outfielder Molly Lundeen

Lana Dubois in action

The Lady Beavers after a big win over Aquinas in Tucson, Arizona

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Arizona Bound

Kayla Mitchell and Janessa Penner

Beavers Ranked #2 in Pre-Season Poll

The pre-season ratings for the DAC Conference softball teams have been released and the Minot State Lady Beavers received two first place votes and five 2nd Place votes. Dickinson is picked to repeat as thc top team in the DAC but the Lady Beavers have their "eyes on the prize" as well.

Team                           Point Total      1st Place Votes

Dickinson State              34                           5
Minot State                      32                           2
Jamestown College      24
Valley City State             20
Dakota State                   15
Black Hills State             14
Mayville State                   8