BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Softball team fell in both games of its 2024 season-opening doubleheader at the Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament Saturday night at the Husky Dome in St. Cloud, Minn. The Beavers fell victim to a walk-off hit in a 4-3 loss to University of Sioux Falls to start the day then fell 18-9 to Northern State University.
The Beavers (0-2) collected three runs off seven hits in the opening game of the fresh season and were led by senior outfielder
Molly Houts who went 2-for-4 with an RBI double in the first inning. After USF tied the game in the bottom of the first, junior
Mariah Stevenson scored on an double steal play in the fourth followed by a RBI single by freshman
Danica Sarff to put the Beavers up 3-1.
However, the Cougars answered back in the fifth with a run off an error and RBI single to tie the game at three. The Cougars then won by way of a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to steal victory away from the Beavers.
Senior
Stella Dolan pitched the complete game throwing 6.1 innings but earned the loss, her first of the season. She allowed four earned runs off eight hits and three walks while striking out six batters.
The second game of the day was a slugfest as Bemidji State and Northern State combined for 27 runs off 26 hits. The Wolves used a six-run first inning to deflate the Beavers and never surrendered the lead following the first frame.
NSU extended its lead to 8-0 in the second inning but Bemidji State answered in the bottom of the second with a six-run inning of its own. Stevenson began the inning with a solo home-run, her first of the season, followed by a two-RBI single from
Alexa Christenson and Houts hit a bases clearing, three-RBI double to bring the Beavers within two.
After a wolves run in the third,
Aimee Christenson drove in her first run of the season with an RBI double in the fourth but Northern State responded with a three-run home run in the fifth.
Bemidji State scored its final two runs in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly from
Jackie Larsen and a run off an error but the Wolves scored six more runs in the seventh to end the game, 18-9.
Freshman
Danica Sarff earned the loss in her first collegiate start after she pitched 1.0 inning and allowed nine runs off two hits and walked six. Sophomore
Elle Hastings pitched the remaining six innings in relief and allowed nine runs off 13 hits but struck out a career-high seven batters.
Bemidj State totaled nine runs off 11 hits with
Aimee Christenson, Larsen and Aukerman each recording two-hit games.
Alexa Christenson and Houts each paced the Beavers with three RBI while
Aimee Christenson, Houts and Stevenson each recorded an extra-base hit.
Bemidji State will attempt to bounce back bright and early tomorrow morning for the final day of the tournament. The Beavers will face Black Hills State University at 9 a.m., to begin the day followed by a rematch with Sioux Falls at 11 a.m. to close out the tournament.
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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