BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University softball team split its doubleheader with St. Cloud State University Wednesday afternoon in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. (18-11, 8-6 NSIC) defeated the Huskies in game one, 8-0, but fell in game two 10-1.

St. Cloud State 0, Bemidji State 8 (F/6)

Bemidji State used eight runs off of 11 hits and a complete game shutout from senior pitcher Jessica Yost to down the Huskies, 8-0 in the first game of the day.

The Beavers scored first in the bottom of the first inning after an RBI from sophomore Kesley McAllister and then exploded for five runs in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 6-0. Jessica Burlingame and Brooke Phillips each hit RBI singles in the inning while Alexandra Ripka capped off the inning with a two RBI double.

The Beavers completed the run rule in the bottom of the sixth inning with RBI singles from Yost and McAllister.

Four Beavers tallied multiple hits in the game including Burling who led BSU by going 3-for-4 with three runs scored.

Yost improves to 15-3 on the season after pitching her fifth shutout. She went all six innings in the game with six strikeouts and one walk allowed.

St. Cloud State 10, Bemidji State 1 (F/6)

Game two would be a different story for the Beavers as the Huskies dominated play late in the game to win, 10-1 in six innings.

The Beavers tallied the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning after a solo home run by McAllister, but the Huskies rallied to score 10 unanswered runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

McAllister earns the loss in the circle despite pitching four innings and only allowing two runs. Rochelle Koshalek relieved McAllister in the fifth inning and pitched 1.2 innings giving up five earned runs.

The Beavers will now host Concordia University-St. Paul and Minnesota State University, Mankato after potential bad weather forced a site reversal for the two doubleheaders. The Beavers will now host the Golden Bears Friday, April 14 at 1 p.m. and the Mavericks Saturday, April 15 at noon.

For more information on the Bemidji State University softball program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeaversSB 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—