MINOT, N.D. (MSU Bubble) -- Bemidji State University softball secured a split on its opening day of the Minot State Bubble Invite Saturday night, taking an 11-5 win over the University of Minnesota Crookston and a 4-1 loss to Minot State University. BSU jumped ahead of UMC, 8-0, through the first five innings en route to its second win of the season.

Elaina Christiansen put out her second home run of the season to start game one, adding two of BSU's four runs in the top of the first inning. The Beavers continued to add to its lead with a sac fly from Ashley Herold in the second followed by a bases-loaded walk and a three-RBI double to give BSU an 8-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the fifth.

UMC answered in the fifth inning with two runs on a double and single, while BSU picked up the two runs on a two-RBI single by Adelyn Wilson in the top of the sixth to lead, 10-2. The Golden Eagles again answered with three runs in the sixth inning while a triple from Alexa Christenson drove in the final run of the game.

Stella Dolan earned the win (2-1) after throwing a complete game with four strikeouts, two walks, eight hits and five earned runs allowed. Aimee Christenson led BSU with three RBI on two hits while Elaina Christiansen and Wilson each recorded two RBI.

Both teams were held scoreless in game two until the top of the fourth inning when Minot State crossed three runs on three hits. Jennifer Smith drove in BSU's lone run of the game on a ground out to bring the deficit to two, 3-1. Minot State added another run in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single while the Bemidji State batting order put just one runner on base through the final three innings.

Kaidron McClafferty (0-3) took the loss after throwing 7.0 innings with three strikeouts, two walks, nine hits and four earned runs allowed. Alexa Christenson scored the only run of the game on Smith's RBI ground out while the team totaled just three hits against Minot State.

Bemidji State finishes its trip to Minot, N.D., with two games Sunday. BSU begins its day at 10:30 a.m. against Montana State University-Billings ahead of a 1 p.m. first pitch against Minot State.

For more information on the Bemidji State athletic programs, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@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 Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

--bsu--