SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Concordia-St. Paul softball team (37-14, 19-7 NSIC) fell to Minot State (24-18, 18-10 NSIC) in Thursday's opening round of the single-elimination NSIC Tournament. The Beavers scored four runs on three hits and an error in the fifth inning, which helped them claim a 5-2 victory.

Both teams combined for nine errors in the contest. Minot State scored its opening run on a throwing error by the Golden Bears in the third inning. The Beavers opened the floodgates in the fifth inning with a triple, double and home run to lead 5-0. 

CSP cut into the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, starting with a single by junior Danni Sharum and a double by senior Alexus Houston. Senior Annalise Scamehorn hit a 2RBI double, cutting the lead to 5-2. Minot State closed the game in the seventh inning with two fielder's choice outs and a lineout caught by Paige Kellogg at second base. 

The Golden Bears left eight runners on base in the contest. Seven of those were left in scoring position on second or third base. CSP outhit Minot State 8-6, and the Beavers committed one more error at 5-4. 

Sharum led the hitting efforts with three singles in four at-bats. Scamehorn hit 2-for-3 which included her double. Houston, Riley Rosenthal and Clara Heislen had the other three hits for the Golden Bears. 

Junior pitcher Erica McCullough pitched a complete game, allowing four earned runs on the six hits. She tallied four strikeouts, but gave up two walks and three wild pitches. Her record fell to 24-7 on the season with the loss. 

Concordia-St. Paul falls to 41-30 all-time in the NSIC Tournament. Head coach Bob Bartel's record falls to 25-27 in the conference tournament.