CLERMONT, Fla. – The Bemidji State University softball team split the first day at the Spring Games Tournament in Clermont, Fla., Sunday. The Beavers (9-4) began the day by defeating No. 15 Caldwell University, 5-4, but fell to Wayne State University (Mich.), 4-0.

Bemidji State 5, Caldwell 4

The Beavers took an early lead against the Cougars in the second inning after scoring all five runs. Freshman Kelsey McAllister began the second with a two-run home run. Alexandra Ripka then followed by hitting a RBI single with the bases loaded to make it 3-0. The Beavers scored again with the bases loaded when Jessica Yost forced a walk and Jessica Burlingame scored the final run of the inning after scoring on a passed ball.

However, the Cougars responded quickly and scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning to make it 5-3. Yost then settled into the pitching circle and pitched four shutout innings. Caldwell pulled within one of BSU with a solo home run in the fourth, but the Beavers’ defense remained strong to close out the 5-4 victory over the No. 15 Cougars.

Yost remained perfect on the season and improved her record to 7-0 after going all seven innings allowing three earned runs and earning six strikeouts.

McAllister led the Beavers at the plate by going 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI while Ripka finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Wayne State (Mich) 4, Bemidji State 0

The Beavers then faced Wayne State (Mich.) in the final game of the day in a game that featured just four hits for BSU. The Warriors grabbed an early 1-0 lead over the Beavers in the first inning off an RBI double and then extended their lead to 2-0 in the third. With back-to-back home runs in the fourth, Wayne State took a 4-0 lead over the Beavers.

Bemidji State struggled at the plate and had only three base runners advance to scoring position during the game.

Jenna Massingill was credited with the loss after going three innings and allowing all four runs while striking out five. Freshman Rochelle Koshalek came in to pitch four relief innings without allowing a run.

The Beavers will be back in action in Clermont again tomorrow and will face Indiana Tech and Bridgeport University at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively.

For more information on the Bemidji State University softball program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@Beaver_Softball or @BSUBeavers) or like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers).

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).

--bsu—