TOPEKA, Kan. - The Bemidji State softball team lost both games of a doubleheader in Topeka, Kan. versus Washburn University. The Lady Blues beat the Beavers 7-1 in game one and snuck by the Beavers 3-1 in game two despite a home run from Mandy Bambrough.

BSU got off to a hot start at MarriAnne Werder started the game off with a triple to right field. She was knocked by the next batter, Brenda Fritz, on a sacrifice fly to right field. One batter later, Jamie Docken singled to right center. But the Bemidji State charge was halted at just one run after Mandy Bambrough flew out to center and Missy Scleicher hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

On the mound for the Beavers, Alaina Ryberg shut down the Lady Blues through two innings, but a pair of errors by BSU paved the way for a seven-run third inning, only three of which were earned runs. The inning was capped by a three-run homer off the bat of Washburn's Malarie Fellers.

The Beavers put a runner in scoring position in the fourth inning with two outs, after pinch hitter Michelle Taylor drew a walk to move Ryberg who had reached on a fielder's choice to second base. But, BSU came up empty after Neena Mathers grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning.

Bemidji State's Andrea Schue replaced Ryberg on the mound and turned in an exceptional performance allowing only one hit, walking one, and giving up zero runs in three innings of work.

Docken picked up her second hit of the game on a single in the sixth, but consecutive fielder's choice outs were collected by the Lady Blues before ending the inning on a groundout by Schue. Washburn then put the Beavers down in order in the seventh to end the game with a 7-1 victory.

After Washburn's Kelly Swygert gave up a run in the first, Erin Bryan came in relief and didn't allow a run, while giving up only two hits in six innings of work moving her record to 5-1 on the season.

In game two of the doubleheader, Bemidji State saw their season record drop to 0-12 despite collecting seven hits in a 3-1 loss to Washburn.

Beaver Andrea Schue started on the mound and shut down the Lady Blues through the first two innings. Washburn manufactured a run in the third to take a 1-0 lead.

In the fourth, Bemidji State's Missy Schleicher singled and moved to second on a groundout by Mathers. Debbie Aidas delivered the next Beaver hit, a single up the middle to move Schleicher to third. But, Washburn's Gloria Jobe shut off the BSU attack getting Katie Gardas to ground out to first base to end the inning.

The Beavers found themselves down 2-0 heading into the top half of the sixth inning after a Brook DeVader double scored Mandy Tarbutton for Washburn's second run. Bemidji State's Bambrough lead off the inning with a solo home run to bring the score to within one run 2-1. After Bambrough's bomb the Beavers were put down in order.

The home-half of the sixth inning saw Washburn add one more run making the score 3-1. The Lady Blues' Gloria Jobe then struck out the side in the seventh to give WU the victory and improve their record to 19-9 on the season. Jobe moved here recored to 4-2 as she scattered seven Beaver hits over her six-inning complete game.

The Beavers will have two weeks off before they are back in action when they take on Minnesota State-Moorhead at home in a doubleheader on April 5, 2005.

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