ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Softball team, after dropping its first game in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament to Minot State University 3-2 in 11 innings, the Beavers defeated Minnesota State University, Mankato 9-4 for the second time in program history dating back to 2001. Bemidji State earned its first NSIC Tournament win for the first time in six seasons.
 
The first game of the tournament started just how the Beavers wanted it to with Mariah Stevenson driving in Eliana Christiansen in the first inning. Then the scoring stopped for six innings. Minot State tied the game up in the seventh inning to keep the game alive with a sacrifice fly to center field. Bemidji State put its second run on the board in the 11^th inning with an RBI single from Emmarie Yeager. MSU walked the game off in the 11^thscoring two runs.
 
The Beavers recorded nine hits in the extra inning game with two extra base hits from Molly Houts and Aimee Christenson both doubling. Christiansen, Houts and Aimee Christenson all had multiple hit games. Christiansen also drew the only walks in the game from both teams reaching base on a free pass twice.
 
Kyla Damerow started the game for the Beavers and pitched six scoreless innings upping her scoreless inning total to 23 in a row. She also reentered the game in the 11^th inning to try to get out of a jam. In her 6.2 innings worked she gave up eight hits but did not walk a single batter. Stella Dolan (10-13) entered in the seventh inning and pitched four innings. Dolan in her outing struck out, two batters, did not walk a batter and gave up six hits and three earned runs. 
 
After going down 4-0 in the second inning of game two against the Mavericks, the Beavers started their rally. Ashley Herold hit her third home run of the season, a two-run shot, to cut the Maverick's led to 4-2 in the fourth inning. In the fifth inning with the bases loaded and one out, Houts singled up the middle to score one more run. Stevenson was up next and doubled to take the lead for the first time in the game, followed by Herold singling driving in one more run. Bemidji State capped off the fifth inning with a bases loaded walk from Morgan Benedict. The Beavers added to their lead with RBIs from Stevenson and Kora Martin to win the game 9-4.
 
The Beavers got their leadoff runner on base for six of the seven innings all from singles. BSU had its second-best hitting performance of the season racking up 13 hits. Houts continued her tear from the first game adding three more hits on the day from a double and two singles. Alexa Christenson, Herold, Yeager and Benedict joined Houts in having a multiple hit game. Everyone reached base at least once in the game with Christiansen reaching on a fielder's choice and Jennifer Smith on a walk. 
 
Stella Dolan started game one for the Beavers but after a four-run inning, Damerow (13-12) was called upon to finish the game. Damerow added to her streak of not allowing an earned run up to 29 innings. In her outing she pitched 5.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts, no walks allowed and gave up five hits. McKayla Armbruster (21-10) started the game for the Mavericks and pitched 4.1 innings. Armbruster struck out two batters, did not issue a walk and gave up nine hits and six earned runs.
 
The Beavers continue the NSIC Tournament tomorrow (Thursday) as they take on Concordia University-St. Paul at 10 a.m., at the RYFSA Complex in Rochester, Minn.
 
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).
 
--bsu--