BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University Softball senior Stella Dolan pitched a total of 16.1 innings in the Beavers' Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader against St. Cloud State Wednesday afternoon to help lead the Beavers to a walk-off win and split with the Huskies.
 
Dolan pitched a career game in the series opener versus the Huskies going 10 innings in a marathon 3-2, 12-inning battle that ended with junior Aimee Christenson batting in the winning run in the bottom of the 12^th. She also earned a career-high 12 strikeouts after facing 39 batters, surpassing her previous career-high of 10.
 
Bemidji State jumped to an early lead over the Huskies (23-17) with an RBI single from Molly Houts in the first inning. St. Cloud State answered in the top of the second with a solo home run from Maggie Fitzgerald to tie the game. After a scoreless third inning, Fitzgerald struck again with her second solo home run in the fourth to put the Huskies on top.
 
Then after a lead-off hit by Aubrey Aukerman in the sixth inning, she came around to score on an error to tie the game at two. The score would remain unchanged for the next five innings heading into the 12^th.
 
After a 1-2-3 top of the 12^th inning by Danica Sarff who pitched the 11^th and 12^th innings and down to just one out left in inning, Mariah Stevenson was hit by a pitch and replaced by Josie Kappes to pitch run. Molly Houts was next up to the plate and singled down the right-field line with Kappes advancing to third. Aimee Christenson then brought Kappes home with a base-hit up the middle to secure the victory.
 
Dolan didn't get credit for the win despite going 10 innings and allowing just two runs. Sarff earned her second win of the season after pitching the final two innings,didn't allow a hit and only one batter reached on a walk while collecting two strikeouts. She improved to 2-6 on the season.
 
Alexa Christenson led the Beavers at the plate collecting three base hits in six at bats while Houts, Aukerman and Morgan Benedict each had multiple hits.
 
The Beavers were unable to overcome a five-run first inning by the Huskies in game two, falling 5-2 in the series finale. The Beavers made a push late with two runs in the sixth inning but failed to pull any closer.
 
Aukerman drove in the lone runs for the Beavers after a bases-loaded, two run single.
 
Elle Hastings pitched 0.2 innings and allowed the five runs off three hits before Dolan came back in to pitch the final 6.1 innings where she didn't allow a run and allowed just three base runners off two hits and a walk and earned four more strikeouts. Hastings was credited with the loss and falls to 3-14 on the season.
 
Bemidji State remains at home and hosts Augustana University and Wayne State College at the BSU Softball Field this Saturday and Sunday in what looks to be great weather for outdoor sports.
 
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—