BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Softball team reached the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament for the first time in six seasons after splitting the series with University of Sioux Falls 3-0 then falling 12-1 in six innings on Sunday. The Beavers recorded their most wins since 2019 finishing with a final regular record of 23-25 overall and 12-14 in the NSIC.
The Beavers and Cougars (24-24, 15-14 NSIC) started game one with two scoreless innings before
Ashley Herold singled in the third inning to score
Alexa Christenson. Then in the following inning
Alexa Christenson singled to score two runs to give the Beavers a 3-0 victory.
The Beavers racked up eight hits in the game one victory. Herold,
Alexa Christenson and
Molly Houts all had two singles on the day. Also singling in the game was
Mariah Stevenson and
Elaina Christiansen. Bemidji State also drew five walks, with
Aimee Christenson drawing two.
Kyla Damerow (12-12) continued her dominate performance in the circle pitching another complete game shutout for the fourth time this season. Damerow struck out three batters, walked four and only gave up three hits, matching her season low on the season when starting. Hanna Cress (6-12) started the game for USF pitching until the fourth inning. In her 3.1 innings of work, she struck out four batters, walked three and gave up seven hits and three earned runs. In the fourth inning Kennedy Thompson entered only allowing one hit in her 2.2 innings pitched.
The Cougars started game two off hot with three runs in the first inning.
Morgan Benedict answered in the second inning with a single to drive in one run and move
Emmarie Yeager to third, but the Beavers scoring would end there as the Cougars only picked up steam. USF added one run in the fourth, two in the fifth and ending the sixth with six runs batted in.
Yeager tallied half of the Beavers' hits in game two with two, a single and a double. Herold and Benedict also contributed to the BSU hit total. Benedict stole second base for the first Bemidji State successful stolen base in 10 games.
Stella Dolan (10-12) started game two for BSU pitching four innings for the Beavers. In her 4.0 innings worked she struck out two batters, walked one and gave up 10 hits and five earned runs.
Abby Kessel entered the game in the fifth inning with one runner one. Kessel struck out the first two batters she faced and got out of the inning without giving up a run in the fifth.
Elle Hastings entered the game in the sixth inning to finish it out for the Beavers. Kait Van Der Zwaag (15-7) pitched a complete game for USF striking out four batters, issuing no walks ang giving up four hits and one earned run.
The Beavers start the post season Wednesday as they travel to Rochester, Minn., to start the NSIC Tournament. Bemidji State will play at 10 a.m. and will find out its opponent later tonight.
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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