WAYNE, Neb. – The Bemidji State University Softball team won its fifth game in a row with
Elaina Christiansen batting in the go-ahead run against Wayne State College to claim a 5-4 victory in game one of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader before getting walked off in the seventh inning of game two falling 4-3. The Beavers remain at .500 overall at 19-19 and also in the NSIC at 8-8.
Emmaire Yeager broke open the scoring between the Beavers and Wildcats (12-34, 7-16 NSIC) with a solo home run in the second inning. The following inning BSU added two more runs capitalizing on an error and a double steal to push in front 3-0. With two runners on Paiton Tornberg from Wayne State hit a bases clearing double and later came around to score to tie up the game at three after three. The Wildcats took the lead from a Tornberg double to go ahead 4-3 in the fourth inning. Both teams were held scoreless until the seventh when Christiansen doubled to left center with two outs to drive in a pair of runs, including the go-ahead run for the 5-4 victory.
Bemidji State totaled eight hits in the victory over Wayne State with
Mariah Stevenson responsible for two hits. The Beavers had two extra base hits on the day with Yeager's home run and Christiansen's double. The four other student-athletes recording a hit were
Alexa Christenson,
Kora Martin,
Molly Houts and
Ashley Herold. Christiansen stole her third base of the season to improve to 3-3 on attempts.
Kyla Damerow (9-10) started on the rubber for game one for BSU and pitched another complete game. Damerow in her seven innings worked stuck out two batters, walked two, and gave up nine hits and three earned runs. Samantha Felt (4-15) pitched the whole game for the Wildcats and in her seven innings stuck out one batter, walked two and gave up eight hits and three earned runs.
Tornberg continued from game one by scoring the first run of game two with a shot to left field for a solo home run and a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. The Beavers with the bases loaded scored three runs from three singles in the fifth inning from Christiansen, Houts and Stevenson. In the seventh inning with two outs and two runners in scoring position Tornberg walked the game off with a single to center field.
In game two the Beavers were only held to six hits with Christiansen and Houts having multiple hits. All hits in game two for BSU were singles.
Alexa Christenson and Stevenson also reached base with a single. Bemidji State drew four walks with Martin drawing two to improve to 15 on the season. On the bases the Beavers stole two bags from Houts and Stevenson.
Stella Dolan (9-8) started in the circle in game two and went 6.2 innings. In her near complete game, she struck out seven batters, walked three and gave up seven hits and four earned runs. Damerow entered the game to get the final out with runs on but was unsuccessful. Callie Carraher started the game for WSC and pitched four scoreless innings. Hadley Chvatal entered the game in fifth but was unable to record an out but gave up three runs. Grace Lucka (4-12) entered with the runners on and got out of the inning. Lucka finished the game and earned the win without giving up a run.
The Beavers continue their three-day road trip as they travel to Augustana University with the doubleheader starting at noon on Monday afternoon in Sioux Falls.
For more information on the Bemidji State Softball program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Multimedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association 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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