BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University softball team opened Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with a series sweep over Minnesota State University, Moorhead Sunday afternoon at Chet Anderson Stadium. 

The Beavers rallied from down five runs to win by way of a walk-off in the eighth inning in game one and then senior pitcher Kaidron McClafferty pitched four innings of perfect softball to help the Beavers earn a 13-0 (5) victory in game two. 

Down 7-2 after the top of the fifth inning, senior Elaina Christiansen hit a three-run home run in the bottom half of the inning to pull the Beavers within two of the Dragons in the day's first game. Still down two runs and with two outs in the bottom of the seventh junior Ashley Herold then blasted a two-run home run to tie the game for the Beavers and send it to extra innings.

After a 1-2-3 inning by sophomore pitcher Kyla Damerow, freshman Alexa Christenson drove in the game-winning run after an RBI single to centerfield for the Beavers first win since Feb. 20.

The Beavers totaled 12 hits in the game led by Christenson who batted 3-for-5 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. She was followed by freshman Mariah Stevenson who went 2-for-4 with a triple, RBI and one run scored while Christiansen went 1-for-3 and paced the team with three RBI. 

Sophomore Stella Dolan started the game and pitched 4.1 innings and allowed seven runs off six hits and had three strikeouts while Damerow had her best outing of the season and pitched 3.2 innings in relief allowing just one hit and earned four strikeouts to pick up her first win of the season (1-3).

Bemidji State's bats continued to produce in game two and totaled 11 hits against the Dragons. The Beavers got off to a hot start and scored five runs in the first inning and then fired off for six runs in the third and then two runs in the fourth to earn the 13-0 victory in five innings.

Senior pitcher Kaidron McClafferty was dominant in the circle as well and didn't allow a base runner in four innings of work. She was replaced by freshman Savanna Disbrow who closed out the game. McClafferty earned her second win of the season (2-5) after four innings of shutout softball and also picked up one strikeout. 

Eight Beavers recorded a hit in the game including two from Jennifer Smith, Molly Houts and Emmarie Yeager. Yeager paced the team by going 2-for-2 with a home run, tied a career-high with four RBI, and scored three runs. Sophomore Lizzie Schwenn and sophomore Molly Houts each followed with two RBI.

Bemidji State continues play at home tomorrow afternoon and will host Northern State University for a doubleheader beginning at Noon from Chet Anderson Stadium.

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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