CROOKSTON, Minn. – The Bemidji State University softball team ended its six-game losing streak Thursday afternoon after earning a split at University of Minnesota Crookston in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. The Beavers (11-35, 8-18 NSIC) rallied to win 10-9 in game one but then fell 1-0 in game two.

The Beavers got off to a quick start in game one when freshman Mariah Stevenson blasted a two-run home run in the first and then her and junior Emmy Yeager both hit RBI singles in the second for the early 4-0 lead. However, the Golden Eagles rallied back with two runs in the third and after the Beavers added another run in the fourth, UMC tallied three runs in the bottom half of the inning and then three more in the fifth to take an 8-5 lead. 

Bemidji State responded with five runs in the sixth inning to retake the lead at 10-8. BSU held the Golden Eagles scoreless in the bottom of the sixth to enter the seventh with the two-run lead. After the Beavers failed to increase their lead in the seventh, Minnesota Crookston threatened BSU's lead after an RBI single to bring the score to 10-9. With two outs and runners on first and third, head coach Jordan Petersen made a pitching change and brought in Stella Dolan who proceeded to strikeout the next batter and claim victory for the Beavers. 

The Beavers totaled 12 hits in the game and were led by Stevenson and freshman Alexa Christenson who each totaled three. Stevenson led the Beavers by going 3-for-4 with three RBI, one home run and two runs scored while Christenson batted 3-for-5 with one RBI, a double and three runs scored. A total of six Beavers recorded an RBI in the game.

Senior Kaidron McClafferty earned her fifth win of the season after pitching 5.1 innings and allowed five runs off eight hits to improve her season record to 5-13. Sophomore Kyla Damerow pitched 1.1 innings and allowed four runs off six hits while Dolan earned her first save of the season after striking out the final batter.

Game two was more of a pitchers duel as the Beavers struggled at the plate and totaled just four hits. Dolan was dominant in the circle and struck out a career-high eight batters to hold the Golden Eagles to just five hits but surrendered the lone run in the game in the second inning.

UMC's Thayda Houser held the Beavers to just four hits to earn the complete game shutout.

Yeager led the Beavers at the plate by going 2-for-3 while Stevenson and Ashley Herold were the only other Beavers to record a hit.

Bemidji State will remain on the road and travel to face University of Sioux Falls Saturday and Southwest Minnesota State University Sunday to conclude its 2022 regular season.

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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