MORRIS, Minn. (Cougar Softball Field) --The Bemidji State Softball team picked up its second victory of the season Friday as it traveled to Morris, Minn. to battle former Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe University of Minnesota-Morris in a non-conference double-header.

The Beavers used timely hitting and took advantage of five Cougar defensive miscues to take game 1, 6-5, but walking the bases loaded to begin the six would spell doom for the visitors as the Cougars plated three runs in the bottom of the inning to steal the night cap, 6-5, and salvage a double-header split.

BSU took a 1-0 lead after the top half of the first, making UMM pay for a leadoff walk. MerriAnne Werder (Browerville, Minn.) drew a free pass to begin the game advancing to second on a Katie Gardas (Arden Hills, Minn.) ground out and then to third when Jamie Docken (Owatanna, Minn.) reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. She scored on the very next pitch as the Cougar catcher was unable to handle the pitch.

After setting Minnesota-Morris down in order in the first, BSU added another run in the second to go up 2-0. Heather Kaskinen (Annandale, Minn.) singled up the middle and would move around to second when Brenda Fritz (McIntosh, Minn.) grounded out to the pitcher. She was pushed to third as Neena Mathers (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) reached on a fielding error. Michelle Taylor (St. Michael, Minn.) reached on a fielder's choice scoring Fritz.

UMM collected just one hit through two innings and had only two runners on base. The team would record three hits in the third, but again we unable to score.

The Cougars came to the plate in the bottom of the fourth and plated three runs on three hits taking advantage of two BSU errors. After the first two batters of the inning reached on defensive miscues, a sacrifice bunt by Wenzel put the runners in scoring position. Remer, Berglund and Johnson followed with consecutive RBI singles to give the Cougars the 3-2 lead.

But the lead would be short-lived as BSU came back in the top of the fifth to regain the upper hand and put the game out of reach.

Werder and Gardas each collected hits to kick off the fifth while Docken successfully advanced the runners up one base with a sacrifice bunt. Mandy Bambrough (Toronto, Ontario) evened the score (3-3) driving Werder in on a fielder's choice. Debbie Aidas (Prior Lake, Minn.) forced UMM to make a pitching change but not before ripping the first pitch she saw onto the grass, scoring Gardas and claiming a 4-3 lead for the Beavers. With the new UMM hurler struggling, Bambrough and Aidas advanced on a wild pitch as Bambrough would score on an error by the catcher.

Each team added a run in the six and UMM plated another in the bottom of the seventh but it would not be enough as BSU gained its second victory of the season, 6-5.

Andrea Schue (Roosevelt, Minn.) pitched a complete seven-inning game to earn her first win as Beaver. The junior allowed 13 hits and five runs (four earned) while she walked one and collected a strikeout. She improves to 1-11 on the season.

In the nightcap, UMM was the aggressor, jumping out to a 2-0 lead after scoring a run in each of the first two innings. But in the top of the third BSU would plate three runs to take a 3-2 lead.

After sending just six batters to the plate during the first two innings, seven BSU batters stepped into the box in the third. Aidas led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Mathers successfully bunted her to third. Taylor would get credit for a sacrifice fly popping out to center field, scoring Aidas.

When Werder was hit by a pitch and Gardas walked, Docken singled threw the left side and advanced to second on the throwing error, clearing the bases.

The Cougars used a leadoff double by Berglund to plate a run in the bottom of the third and knot the score at three.

After both teams were held scoreless in the fourth, BSU battled back to regain the lead in the top of the fifth. When Taylor garnered a one-out walk, Werder doubled to left field, collecting her first RBI of the day as Taylor scored giving BSU a 4-3 advantage.

But when the Beavers walked the bases loaded to begin the UMM half of the fifth, the Cougars would make them pay as Taylor cleared the bases with a double to left field.

BSU was retired in order in the top of the six as UMM gained its fifth win of 2005, 6-5.

Alaina Ryberg (Hudson, Wis.) was on the hill for BSU in the loss allowing three hits and six earned runs, walking 12 while collecting five strikeouts in six innings of work. She falls to 1-9 on the season.

BSU improves to 2-20 this season. The Beavers will be back in action April 19th when they travel to Crookston, Minn. to battle the University of Minnesota-Crookston in an NISC double dip. The first pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.