Box Score ROCHESTER, Minn. – Minot State University's first ever Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament game was highlighted by a blast and a ton of Ks.

The blast came from Melissa Bell (So., C, Belgrade, Mont.), who hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first on a 3-2 count to give MISU a 2-0 lead.

The Ks – 17 total – came from Mandy Greenberg (Sr., P, Winnipeg, Manitoba) who put an exclamation point on her NSIC Pitcher of the Year award that was announced Wednesday.

The duo helped the No. 4 seeded Beavers to a 5-1 win over No. 5 seed Upper Iowa in the opening round of the 2013 NSIC / U.S. Bank Softball Championships played at the Rochester Community & Technical College Dome.

“We did a great job of giving Mandy some early runs. Mel's home run and getting two more to lead 4-0 after 1 was huge for us,” said MISU head coach Bill Triplett. “With the way Mandy was throwing, we didn't need four, but to get those was so big in our first game here.”

Bell's home run was followed by and RBI by Katie Backes (Jr., UTL, Minot, N.D.) and an unearned run as Stacy Fournier (Jr., INF, Langley, British Columbia) to make it 4-0 after one inning.

From there it was Greenberg's game.

The senior made one mistake, a solo home run to Katie Mnichowicz, who broke up a no hitter with the HR to right. Not only was it the first one to get a hit off of Greenberg, it was the first UIU batter to put a ball in play as Greenberg struck out the first eight batters she faced.

“Mandy has always pitched better and rose to the occasion in big games,” Triplett said. “She was very good for us over the years in the NAIA national tournament against those ranked teams her freshman and sophomore seasons. Now, we expect her to raise her game against these teams as well.”

Greenberg did get into trouble in the sixth as Upper Iowa loaded the bases on a hit, a walk and an error, but she set down two straight via the strikeout to end the inning.

“Mandy has such great control and didn't have to go to much off speed,” said Triplett. “She was really overpowering.”

Minot State (37-7 overall) got an insurance run in the sixth as Carmen Vargas (Sr., C, Cathedral City, Calif.) singled home Backes who had doubled to open the inning. Backes finished with two hits to lead the offense. Jen Dixon (Jr., OF/P, Brandon, Manitoba) added a double and went 1-for-1 with two walks.

Mnichowicz was the only Peacocks (28-15) hitter to figure out Greenberg as she went 2-for-2 in the No. 9 position.

Minot State moves on in the winner's bracket to face the winner of the St. Cloud State/Minnesota State game at 4 p.m. Saturday.

– GO BEAVERS –