FT. PIERCE, Fla. – The Bemidji State University softball team gave away the first game of a doubleheader Friday, but run-ruled Marywood (Pa.) University in the nightcap to kick off the Florida Coast Softball.

The Beavers dropped the first game 7-6 after taking a commanding 5-0 lead after four innings, but allowed five in the fifth and couldn’t quite recover. In Game 2, Bemidji State responded with a 15-2 offensive explosion to take their record to 1-5 on the young 2009 campaign.

Alison Willard (Sr., P, Hutchinson, Minn.) took the mound for BSU and responded with 6.0 strong innings. She gave up only four hits and struck out six, while only walking three in the no decision. She gave up six runs but none were earned. Courtney Anderson (Fr., P, Virginia, Minn.) threw the final inning and gave up one hit and one unearned run, striking out two and giving up her first walk of the season for the loss.

Brittany Bolstad (Jr., OF, International Falls, Minn.) was the leader at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Kasey Callison (Sr., 1B, Eagle River, Alaska) and Bridget Smith (Sr., SS, Burnsville, Minn.) each had two runs batted in, and Amy Klaers (Sr., 3B/C, Elk River, Minn.) scored twice.

BSU collected 13 hits in the first contest, but couldn’t keep the Pacers (4-3) off the scoreboard.

The second game was similar in terms of hits, with the Beavers getting 14, but the team was much better in all phases of the game.

Bemidji State jumped out to a big 8-1 lead after the first inning, and scored four in the third and three in the fourth to cruise to the first win of the season.

Anderson started and threw 3.0 innings to take her first collegiate win. She allowed two hits and one earned run, but struck out seven batters and walked just one. Jordan Anderson (Fr., P, Sartell, Minn.) saw her first collegiate action, throwing the final 2.0 innings. She allowed two hits and one earned run, striking out two and walking one.

Many Beavers had multiple hits, but this game belonged to Jamie Lund (So., P, Grantsburn, Wisc.). Lund went 4-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. Mara Johnson (Sr., 2B, Bemidji, Minn.) was also excellent at the plate, going 3-for-4 and bringing home three runs. Callison and Kailee Jaeger (Jr., OF, Devils Lake, N.D.) combined for five runs and two RBI, while going 4-for-7. Jaeger picked up her first collegiate hits in the winning effort. Smith went 1-for-3 and scored twice.

Bemidji State will continue the Florida road trip Saturday with a doubleheader against Northwestern (MN) College. The first game will begin at 11:00 a.m.

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