CLERMONT, Fla. – The Bemidji State University softball team dropped two games at the Spring Break Tournament in Clermont, Fla., Saturday afternoon ending its six-game winning streak. The Beavers (9-5, 0-0 NSIC) fell to Nova Southeastern University 1-0 in eight innings before falling to Merrimack College, 3-2 later in the afternoon.

Bemidji State 0, Nova Southeastern 1 (F/8)

The first game of the day would turn out to be a pitcher’s duel between the Beavers and Sharks with only one run scored and would take extra innings to decide a winner

Senior Jessica Yost was in the circle for Bemidji State and threw seven shutout innings and earned 10 strikeouts but with a runner on third, surrendered an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth for the game-winning run.

BSU out hit the Sharks 6-5 in the game but couldn’t capitalize with runners on and left seven runners on base throughout the game. For Yost, the loss is just her second loss of the season falling to 6-2 and the only run she allowed was unearned.

Jessica Burlingame tallied two hits in the game to lead the Beavers at the plate while Kesley McAllister and Lexi Derrick each doubled during the game.

Bemidji State 2, Merrimack 3

The second game would also have a dramatic finish that came down to the last inning of play. The Beavers scored early in the first inning from an RBI single by Yost but the Warriors were able to tie the game in the third inning with a run of their own.

Neither team would be able to score in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings but BSU tallied the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh when Burlingame hit an RBI single.

Unfortunately, the Warriors would load the bases in the bottom half of the inning. Merrimack was able to draw a walk to bring in the game-tying run and scored the game-winning run after being hit by a pitch.

Sophomore Rochelle Koshalek earned just her first loss of the season after pitching two innings, gave up one hits but allowed two runs off of three walks.

The Beavers tallied five hits in the game including two from Burlingame.

Bemidji State closes out play at the Spring Break Tournament tomorrow with a game against University of Northwestern Ohio at 3:30 p.m.

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).

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