EMPORIA, Kan. -- The Bemidji State University softball team lost three games on Saturday at the Emporia State Tournament in Emporia Kan. No. 22 Northwest Missouri State downed the Beavers 8-3, while Truman State and Missouri Western beat BSU by eight runs apiece, 11-3 and 12-4.

In the early game for BSU, Northwest Missouri State jumped out to a 7-0 lead with five runs in the second inning and two more in the third before the Beavers were able to answer in the fourth.

Shortstop Bridget Smith (So., Burnsville, Minn.) started out the fourth with a single to centerfield and was moved around to third when Jamie Docken (Jr., OF, Owatonna, Minn.) reached on an error. One batter later, Docken and Smith pulled a double-steal to plate BSU's lone run in the fourth.

The Beavers got more offense from Docken and Smith in the sixth inning. After Smith reached on a single to right field, Docken hit an opposite-field, two-run blast to bring the Beavers to just a four-run deficit.

The Bearcats answered with solid pitching and one more insurance run in the last inning and a half to close out an 8-3 win.

Kristen Paine (Jr., P, Chisholm, Minn.) took the loss on the mound for the Beavers giving up eight earned runs on eight hits, while striking out six and walking just two in six innings of work.

In BSU's second game of the day, against Truman State, the Beavers got solid pitching and defense through the first four innings before both struggled in the fifth and six innings.

The Beavers tied the game at 1-1 in the third inning as Smith scored on an error by TSU's right fielder off the bat of Mara Johnson (So., INF, Bemidji, Minn.).

Truman State answered in the fifth and sixth innings, combining to score 10 runs (four earned) on four Bemidji State fielding miscues.

BSU mounted a comeback attempt in the fifth with five hits, but were only able to plate two runs on Docken's bases-loaded, one-out double. The Beavers stranded three runners in the inning.

Ali Willard (So., P, Hutchinson, Minn.) took the 11-3 loss on the mound for BSU working 5.1 innings and giving up 11 runs (four earned) on nine hits and eight walks.

In Bemidji State's night cap, the Beavers jumped out to a four-run lead, plating four runs in the second inning with just one hit. BSU drew two walks and were hit twice in the inning.

The lone hit in the second was an RBI single off the bat of Katie Prettyman (So., OF, International Falls, Minn.) to score Jessica Pullar (So., OF, Elk River, Minn.).

The four-run lead was quickly erased by Missouri Western. The Griffons plated nine runs in the top of the third on their way to a 12-4, five-inning victory.

Lindsey Imhof (Sr., P, Littlefork, Minn.) took the loss for BSU working 2.2 innings and giving up eight runs on six hits while walking four.

BSU will look to end its five-game skid on Sunday against Washburn and no. 7, host Emporia State. Emporia State was the 2006 NCAA Division II National runner-up last season.

--bsu--