VALLEY CITY, N.D. - The Bemidji State University softball team played its final games of the 2005 regular season at Valley City State. The Vikings upstaged the Beavers 5-0 in game one and 12-9 in the night cap.

The Beaver offense was completely shut down in the first game of the twinbill by strong VCSU pitching, striking out eight Bemidji State hitters. BSU collected five hits in the game, two by Neena Mathers (So.; Brooklyn Park, Minn.), and one each by freshman Michelle Taylor (St. Michael, Minn.), junior Alaina Ryberg (Hudson, Wis.), and senior MerriAnne Werder (Browerville, Minn.).

Bemidji State’s best chance to put some runs on the board came in the top of the seventh inning, when the Beavers had the bases packed with nobody out. The Viking defense dug in and recorded three consecutive outs to end the Beaver rally and the game 5-0.

The Beavers sent Andrea Schue (Jr.; Roosevelt, Minn.) to the mound. She pitched all six innings for the Beavers giving up five earned runs, on seven hits, while striking out three and walking two.
The BSU attack started slow in game two, being shut out through the first three innings, before lighting the scoreboard in the final four.

Down 4-0 in the fourth, the Beavers tacked on one in the inning, and four more in the fifth to take a 5-4 lead. The first Beaver run came courtesy of a bases loaded walk which scored Jamie Docken who had singled to reach base.

In the fifth, an RBI single by Docken, and two bases loaded wild pitches plated runs for the Beavers. The lead was short-lived as the Vikings posted three runs in the fifth to take a 7-5 lead.

The Beavers answered to tie the score in the sixth on an RBI double by Katie Gardas (Jr.; Arden Hills, Minn.). The Vikings again responded with runs plating five in the bottom of the sixth to run the lead up to five, 12-7.

A last ditch effort came up short for the Beavers in the seventh, scoring just two runs. An RBI double by Ryberg, and a bases loaded hit batsmen plated runs for BSU.

Schue pitched another complete game giving up 12 runs (eight earned) on 15 hits, while striking out one and walking just one. Docken, Gardas, and Ryberg collected two hits apiece for BSU.

The loss moves the Beavers’ 2005 regular season record to 6-31 overall and 4-12 in the NSIC.

The postseason NSIC playoff championships are next on the slate for the Beavers on May 6-7 in St. Paul, Minn. Last year, BSU won their first round game against Minnesota-Crookston, before dropping games to Southwest Minnesota State and Winona State to end their playoff hopes.

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