BEMIDJI, Minn. - Amidst the snowfall, timely
hitting and strong pitching led the Beavers to a sweep in
a doubleheader against the University of Minnesota-Crookston.
The Beavers took the first game 8-0 and the second 11-3 to
complete their first sweep of the season and just the second
time this year with back-to-back victories.
The Beaver offense got on the board quickly in game one, scoring
two runs in the home half of the first inning. Freshman Jamie
Docken (Owatonna, Minn.) started the two-out rally with a
double over the head of the left fielder. After Mandy Bambrough
(Jr.; Toronto, Ontario) singled and Michelle Taylor (Fr.;
St. Michael, Minn.) drew a walk to load the bases, Heather
Kaskinen (Fr.; Annandale, Minn.) came through with a RBI single
scoring Docken and Bambrough.
The Beavers were unable to improve their 2-0 lead until the
fifth inning when they posted four more runs. Consecutive
singles by Debbie Aidas (Sr.; Prior Lake, Minn.), Brenda Fritz
(Jr.; McIntosh, Minn.), and MerriAnne Werder (Sr.; Browerville,
Minn.) started off the inning with the sacks packed. Katie
Gardas (Jr.; Arden Hills, Minn.) knocked in a run on an error
by the right fielder. Docken followed with an RBI single,
and Bambrough knocked in another with a double to centerfield.
Taylor picked up the fourth RBI of the inning on a sacrifice
fly.
Two more runs in the sixth inning for the Beavers ended the
game with the eight-run rule in effect. Werder’s single
notched the final two RBI scoring Aidas and Neena Mathers
(So.; Brooklyn Park, Minn.).
Andrea Schue cruised on the mound to possibly the best performance
of her career. She gave up just three hits in the five-inning
shutout victory, striking out three and walking just one.
The Beavers batted their way to 10 hits, including two each
from Werder, Docken, and Bambrough.
The night cap of the doubleheader was the same story for BSU.
The Beavers put the game out of reach in the first three innings,
scoring six in the first, three in the second, and two more
in the third.
Werder’s hot bat continued at the plate as she started
game two with a double. Docken picked up the RBI single to
score Werder after Gardas had moved the runner over on a sacrifice
bunt. Run scoring singles in the inning were also tallied
by Kaskinen, Aidas, and Fritz to put the Beavers ahead 6-0
at the end of the first.
Docken extended her fine day with RBI-singles in the second
and third innings, as she went 3-for-3 in the game with three
RBI. Kaskinen also picked up her third RBI of the day in the
second inning.
BSU collected 10 hits in the game. Brenda Fritz notched two
hits and an RBI for the Beavers, while
Heather Kaskinen knocked in two runs in the game.
Schue’s career day on the mound continued in the second
game. She pitched all five innings giving up just three runs
(two earned) on six hits striking out three and walking two.
The two wins move the Beavers record to 6-27 (4-10 NSIC) in
the 2005 campaign. Next up for BSU will be a doubleheader
on the road at NSIC foe Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D. The
first pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.
--bsu--
