BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Softball team kicks-off its 2024 season this weekend at the Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament hosted by St. Cloud State University at the Husky Dome in St. Cloud, Minn. The Beavers will play in four games spanning Saturday through Sunday.
 
Bemidji State will start the weekend facing University of Sioux Falls Saturday at 4 p.m. BSU will then face Northern State University later that evening at 6 p.m. The Beavers will end the weekend against Black Hills State University  at 9 a.m., Sunday followed by a rematch with Sioux Falls at 11 a.m.
 
Each team enters the weekend with a clean slate, with all participants seeing their first action of the year. Games will kick off Friday at 2 p.m. with Northern State and Black Hills State facing off and can be viewed online at NSICNetwork.com/bsubeavers.
 
The Beavers return to the diamond after finishing last season with a 24-27 record which saw an NSIC Tournament birth for the Beavers after a six-year absence from the postseason tournament and advanced to the second day of the tournament.
 
Despite graduating six seniors last year, the Beavers maintain most of last season's core and have added six freshmen as well as returning junior Johnna Seriano.
 
Crucial players returning for the Beavers include junior Mariah Stevenson, who was one of two players to start in all 51 games for the Beavers last season and led the team in batting average. She batted .327 in 147 at bats and brought in a team leading 25 RBIs. This season also sees the return of two of last season's outfield trio with Molly Houts and Alexa Christenson. Houts was was second on the team in batting average (.316) and produced a .962 fielding percentage, while Alexa Christenson was third with a .315 batting average.
 
In terms of pitching, the Beavers see the return of Stella Dolan, who started 25 games last year and won 10. She struck out a team-high 96 batters along with a 4.94 ERA. Dolan threw one shutout on the season while also receiving a single save for the 6 games she pitched in relief.
 
Head coach Jordan Petersen begins her third season as head bench-boss for the BSU Softball program and brought in newcomers Josie Kappes, Avery Amidon, Jackie Larsen, Danica Sarff, Allie Voit and Maddie Kielsmeier to fill out the team. Peterson is 35-66 in her two seasons with the Beavers.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State softball program, follow the Beavers on X (@BSUBeaversSB), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BemidjiStateSoftball) and follow them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversSB).
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and women's hockey 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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