BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Softball team's playoff hopes stay alive after defeating University of Minnesota, Crookston 3-2 and 6-2 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play Thursday afternoon at the SBU Softball Field in Bemidji, Minn. Freshman Morgan Benedict recorded five hits through the doubleheader for her best batting performance of the season.
Minnesota Crookston (16-31, 4-18 NSIC) started the scoring in the third inning with a double from Paige Shwaluk to score Gabriella Bloomdhal from second. UMC added one more with a single from Maddie Shwaluk to go up 2-0 in the sixth. The Beavers (21-23, 10-12 NSIC) started the sixth inning with three straight doubles from Ashley Herold, Emmarie Yeager and Jennifer Smith to bring the game level at two all. Alexa Christenson scored the winning run with two outs with a single to right field in the sixth.
The Beavers pulled together eight hits in their winning efforts. Smith and Benedict both had their second multiple hit games of the season both recording a double and a single. Yeager and Herold also recorded doubles and Elaina Christiansen tripled for the second time this season. Also reaching base from a single was Alexa Christenson.
Kyla Damerow (10-11) became the first BSU pitcher to reach double digit wins since Stephi Dullum in 2019. Damerow pitched her 11 complete game and tallied five strikeouts, three walks allowed and gave up eight hits and two eared runs. Thayda Houser started the game for UMC and pitched five scoreless innings, walking two batters and giving up four hits. Charlott Dombrowski (2-7) entered the game in the sixth inning seeing three batters all doubling before Evie Stuck entered and finished the game.
The Golden Eagles landed on the board first in game two with a single from Paige Shwaluk with runners in scoring position to go up 1-0. After a two-out error by UMC the Beavers took advantage of the opportunity in the home half of the second. With runners on Benedict brought home the first BSU run with a single. Kora Martin was the next at bat singling to go up 2-1 before Alexa Christenson hit a bases clearing triple to add two more runs and Christiansen ended the scoring in the second with a single up the middle to cap off the five-run inning. Bemidji State added one more run with a single for Smith in the fifth to take a 6-1 lead. In the seventh the Golden Eagles were able to grab one run to end the game at 6-2.
Bemidji State racked together 12 hits in game two, its third most this season. Benedict led the team with three hits, the most in a game this season. Behind her was Alexa Christenson and Mariah Stevenson both totaling two hits, a single and an extra base hit. Christiansen, Herold, Yeager, Smith and Martin also tallied hits in game two.
Stella Dolan (10-9) recorded her 10th win of the season and is the first time since 2016 the Beavers had two pitchers reach double digits. Dolan pitched a complete game with six strikeouts, one walk and gave up 10 hits and two earned runs. Stuck (1-6) started the game for the Golden Eagles. She pitched four innings, striking three batters, walked one and did not give up an earned run.
The Beavers continue on their playoff push as they host Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday for senior day at the BSU Softball field starting at 1 p.m.
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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