FAYETTE, Iowa – Despite producing its highest offensive output since its first day of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play March 28, the Bemidji State University softball team came up empty in a conference doubleheader against Upper Iowa University, falling 16-2 and 21-8. The games counted as home tilts for the Beavers.

BSU, which played without starters Allie Duellman (Jr., P, Maplewood, Minn.) and Molly Arola (Sr., IF, Walker, Minn.), fell to 8-37 on the season with a 2-26 mark in the conference, while UIU improved to 26-14 with a 13-7 league ledger and assured itself of a playoff berth.

Crystal Bowen (IF, Duluth, Minn.) gave Bemidji State the start it wanted in the first game of the day, singling home Lyndsey Peterson (Fr., P/IF, Cottonwood, Minn.) to give BSU a 1-0 lead. The one-run advantage didn’t last long, however, as the Peacocks answered with three runs in the next frame.

After Upper Iowa used more multi-run innings including an eight-run sixth to push the score to 16-1, Nicole Dupay (Jr., OF, Woodbury, Minn.) capped the scoring with a home run.

In the second game, Dupay gave the Beavers their second 1-0 lead of the day with a solo home run in the first inning. The homer was her fifth of the season, the third-highest total in BSU softball history.

The Peacocks again answered with a pair of big innings in the second and third to make it a 5-1 game. BSU answered in the bottom of the third to make it 5-3, but Upper Iowa used a six-run fourth to pull away for the 21-8 win.

Dupay led the offensive charge for the Beavers, going 3-for-3, while Peterson kept her hot streak at the plate going with a pair of hits and four RBI.

The Beavers will conclude their season Sunday afternoon against first-place Winona State University. Seniors Bowen and Kelsey Saralampi (P, Esko, Minn.) will play their finals games as Beavers.

For more information on the Bemidji State University softball program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@Beaver_Softball or @BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers), or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Mulitmedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.

Nestled in Northern Minnesota’s wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). 

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