ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Down two runs after the second inning, the Bemidji State University softball team rallied to defeat Southwest Minnesota State University 8-4 Sunday afternoon in the last game of the Kelly Laas Softball Tournament in St. Cloud, Minn 

The Beavers started the game with two runs in the first inning when Jennifer Smith and Ashley Herold drove in runs. However, the Mustangs responded with a four-run second inning to take a 4-2 lead over the Beavers.

Bemidji State tied the game in the top of the third inning when Elaina Christiansen blasted her first home-run of the season, a two-run shot to right field.

In a relief appearance, sophomore Stella Dolan pitched 5.1 innings of scoreless softball to keep the Mustangs at four runs. Her team rallied around her performance and in the sixth inning, the Beaver bats exploded to score four runs after Molly Houts came in as a pinch hitter and hit a two-run single and Alexa Christenson followed with an RBI triple. Dolan was able to close out the game and earn her first win of the season to improve to 1-1 on the season. She leads the BSU pitching staff with 10 strikeouts including five today. 

Christiansen finished the day two-for-four at the plate with a home run and two RBI while Herold went two-for-three with an RBI. 

Bemidji State is now 1-4 to start its 2022 season and will continue non-conference play next weekend when it travels to Minot, N.D., to compete in the Air-Supported Dome Invitational Feb. 18-20.

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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