SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – The Bemidji State University Softball team opened Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play Sunday afternoon by sweeping Southwest Minnesota State University in its doubleheader at ASB Sports Complex in Sioux Center, Iowa.
 
The Beavers (8-17, 2-0 NSIC) rallied to earn a 5-3 comeback victory in game one and then held the Mustangs (9-16, 0-2 NSIC) to one run in a 3-1 victory in game two.
 
BSU trailed 3-2 after the first six innings in game one but a three-run seventh inning put the Beavers in front 5-3 where senior pitcher Stella Dolan finished the complete game victory.
 
Sophomore Morgan Benedict led the Beavers with two hits in the game including driving in the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the seventh. She went 2-for-3 in the game with two base hits, an RBI and drew a walk. Seven other Beavers recorded a hit in the game as BSU finished with nine hits in the game.
 
Dolan pitched her 11^th complete game of the season and earned the victory to improve to 6-8 on the season. She allowed just three runs off seven hits and struck out two without allowing a walk.
 
Sophomore Elle Hastings (1-3) pitched the Beavers to victory in game two holding the Mustangs to just one run through seven innings to earn her first win of the season. The Beavers scored two runs in the second inning after an RBI single from freshman Jackie Larsen and Alexa Christenson walked in a run with the bases loaded.
 
The Mustangs scored their lone run in the next inning but Hastings held them off the scoresheet for the remaining four innings to deliver the Beavers their first conference sweep since April 27 of last year.
 
Larsen was dominant in the batter's box going 4-for-4 with a double and RBI for her first four-hit game of her career. Junior Mariah Stevenson went 2-for-4 with a double as well.
 
Bemidji State continues play in Sioux Center tomorrow afternoon for an NSIC doubleheader with Concordia University-St. Paul beginning at Noon.
 
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).
 
--bsu—