FARGO, N.D. - The Bemidji State softball team had troubles getting its bats heated in the 37-degree weather as the Beavers were beaten today by the University of North Dakota 7-0 in the first game of the NDSU Softball Classic.

UND's Tara Peterson controlled the game from start to finish as she collected eight strike outs and allowed only one hit in seven innings of shut out work.

Meagan Bray played the role of the spoiler in the game. When she came up to bat in the top of the first inning, she singled to center field ruining any chance Peterson had of throwing a no-hitter. Bray again reached base in the fourth inning when she worked a walk out of the Sioux pitcher.

Leah Bowen was on the mound for BSU and held UND in check for the first four innings of play. But in the fifth, the Sioux strung six hits together and capitalized on three BSU errors to get five runs to break the scoreless tie. They would add two more in the bottom of the sixth to stretch their lead to seven runs.

Bemidji State is now 5-5 over-all with a record of 5-4 in the NSIC. The team will be in action again this afternoon when they face host team North Dakota State at 1:30 p.m. The NDSU Softball Classic continues tomorrow when the Beavers will be pitted against MSU-Moorhead at 9:30 a.m. and Concordia-Moorhead at 12:00 p.m.

-bsu-