MINOT, N.D. (MSU Bubble) -- Bemidji State University softball took a split for the second straight day Sunday at the Minot State Bubble Invite with a win of 4-3 over Montana State University-Billings and a 5-0 loss to Minot State University. Kaidron McClafferty earned her first win of the season in relief as the Beavers move to 3-6 overall.

Game One – vs. MSU-Billings

MSU-Billings struck first to open the day before a two-run second inning by BSU to take the lead, 2-1. The Beavers put two of its first three batters on base followed by a sacrifice bunt to set up runners on second and third base with two outs. Kora Martin reached base on a throwing error by the Yellowjackets to allow Emmarie Yeager to score. During the next at-bat, Mariah Stevenson scored on a double steal to give BSU the lead.

A lead-off double by Elaina Christiansen in the bottom of the third inning set up a two-out, RBI single by Molly Houts to push BSU's lead to two, 3-1. MSU-Billings tied the game to start the fourth inning, adding a lead-off home run and an RBI single up the middle with one out. Kaidron McClafferty entered to pitch and retired both batters face to keep BSU tied, 3-3.

Christiansen led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a hit by pitch and was advanced to third on back-to-back ground outs. Houts recorded her second RBI of the game to give the Beavers the go-ahead run, 4-3, scoring Christiansen on an RBI single to center field.

McClafferty stranded two MSU-Billings baserunners in the sixth inning and escaped a lead-off single in the seventh. The Beavers retired the lead baserunner in back-to-back fielder's choices before BSU ended the game with a fly out.

Houts accounted for two of BSU's three hits and two of its RBI. McClafferty (1-3) earned the win after throwing 3.2 innings with one strikeout, one walk, two hits and no runs allowed.

Game Two – vs. Minot State

Minot State recorded its first two runs in the bottom of the first inning before adding another two in the third and one in the fourth. BSU was sent down in order to start the top of the first and left two runners stranded in the second looking to chip away at the MiSU lead.

Through the game, Bemidji State left nine runners on base while Minot State totaled nine hits to BSU's five. Kyla Damerow (0-2) took the loss after throwing 2.2 innings with one strikeout. Mariah Stevenson recorded two of BSU's five hits.

Bemidji State will travel next to Winter Haven, Fla., for its spring trip, consisting of 10 games from March 4-9.

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).

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