BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Softball team played its first games at home Tuesday evening but fell to University of Minnesota Duluth in both games of its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader at Chet Anderson Stadium.
The Beavers (8-23, 2-6 NSIC) were shutout by the Bulldogs (23-10, 4-4 NSIC) in game one 7-0 but fell 7-4 in game two after tying the game at 4-4 in the fourth inning.
Bemidji State totaled four hits in game one going up against one of the top pitchers in the NSIC in Lauren Dixon. Freshman
Avery Amidon recorded two of those hits going 2-for-3 at the plate with two singles. Freshman
Jackie Larsen and senior
Molly Houts each collected base hits for the other two hits for BSU.
Senior
Stella Dolan pitched five innings and allowed all seven runs off 11 hits. She collected three strikeouts in the circle while walking one but falls to 6-10 after the loss. She was replaced by freshman
Danica Sarff who pitched the final two innings and didn't allow a run or hit but walked two.
The Beavers did much better at the plate in game two scoring four runs off seven hits including scoring the game's first run when Houts hit an RBI single in the first inning to open the game.
However, the Bulldogs answered in the top of the second with a four-run inning to take a 4-1 lead. After a scoreless third inning, Bemidji State rallied in the fourth scoring three runs to tie the game. After a lead-off walk, the Beavers strung together back-to-back hits to load the bases where sophomore
Morgan Benedict drove in a run after a sacrifice fly. BSU the scored two more runs when sophomore
Grace Gumiela hit a two RBI single up the middle to tie the game.
UMD responded again and retook the lead with a two-run home run in the fifth inning by Kat Burkhardt. The Beavers were held off the scoreboard over the final two innings and the Bulldogs added an insure run in the sixth to close the 7-4 victory.
Alexa Christenson and
Mariah Stevenson each recorded two hits to pace the Beavers at the plate while Gumiela paced the Beavers with two RBI and Benedict and Houts each added one.
Sophomore
Elle Hastings started the game in the circle and pitched the first four innings allowing four runs off six hits and walked one but was credited with the no decision. Sarff came in to pitch the fifth inning and got one out before allowing the game-winning runs to earn the loss, her sixth of the season (1-6). Dolan pitched the final 2.2 innings and allowed one run off four hits.
The Beavers return to the road and will travel to Mankato, Minn., and Winona, Minn., to face Minnesota State University, Mankato and Winona State University Saturday-Sunday for two more NSIC doubleheaders.
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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