ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Bemidji State University softball team lost their last three games of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Crossover in Aberdeen, S.D. The Beavers finished up a holdover game from Saturday against Southwest Minnesota State, an 8-0 loss, then dropped games to Winona State, 5-3, and Upper Iowa, 10-5.

BSU started the day in a 6-0 hole in the fifth inning against SW Minnesota State in a game that was rained out one day earlier. BSU was unable to generate any offense and the Mustangs tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning to inflict the eight-run mercy rule.

The Beavers committed three errors in the game, helping keep the inning alive for SMSU. Alison Willard (So., P, Hutchinson, Minn.) took the loss on the mound for BSU. She pitched 4.1 innings and allowed six runs (five earned) on hits, while striking out two and walking three.

The Bemidji State offense managed just two hits off of Mustang pitcher Nicole Fringer. Mara Johnson (So., INF, Bemidji, Minn.) and Megan McDonald (Jr., C, Warroad, Minn.) each notched a single for the Beavers.

In the Beavers’ first scheduled game of the day, defensive miscues played a huge part in the loss. Junior pitcher Kristen Paine (Chisholm, Minn.) hurled a complete game, allowing just two earned runs (five total) on five hits, while striking out three and walking four.

The Warriors got to Paine early in the third inning, starting out the frame with three straight hits which led to two quick runs. A catcher’s interference call with two outs, later in the inning, kept it alive and brought an unearned run across for a 3-0 Warrior lead.

BSU responded with a run in the fifth inning. Jamie Docken (Jr., OF, Owatonna, Minn.) started the inning off with a double and later Amy Klaers’ (So., INF, Elk River, Minn.) sacrifice fly put BSU on the board.

Winona State posted two more runs in the top of the sixth to put the Beavers down 5-1. In the home half of the inning, back-to-back doubles by Katie Prettyman (So., OF, International Falls, Minn.) and Bridget Smith (So., INF, Burnsville, Minn.) cut the lead to 5-2. BSU mounted a small rally in the seventh after Docken reached on an error and scored on Kasey Callison’s (So., INF, Eagle River, Alaska) RBI double. But, one batter later, Kaitlin Wells (So., C/1B, Eagle River, Alaska) grounded out to end the game.

BSU’s final game turned out to be a hit-fest. The Beavers posted one more hit, 14, than Upper Iowa’s 13, but UIU managed a 10-5 victory.
The Peacocks came flying out of the gates with three runs in the first inning and three more in the third inning to take a 6-1 lead.

BSU tried to claw its way back into the game with two runs in the third inning. Klaers knocked in a run with an RBI single and outfielder Jessica Pullar (So., Elk River, Minn.) brought in the other run with a sacrifice fly to left field.

After the Peacocks scored four more runs in the fourth inning, BSU responded again with two more runs in the fifth inning on RBI singles from Klaers and Pullar. But, as the game wore on, UIU pitching seemed to get themselves out of jams with minimal damage. The Beavers left 12 runners on base in the game.

Willard (4-9) took the loss for the Beavers, pitching three innings and giving up 10 runs (eight earned) on 11 hits, while walking four.

Bemidji State (6-20; 3-11 NSIC) will stay in Aberdeen, S.D., overnight and take on the Wolves tomorrow. The first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for noon.

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