BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Softball team kept its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Softball Tournament hopes alive this weekend after going 2-2 at University of Mary and Minot State University Saturday and Sunday.
The Beavers began with a series sweep of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., Saturday afternoon but then fell in two games to Minot State in Minot, N.D., Sunday. The Beavers are now 13-34 on the season and 7-17 in NSIC play and are three games back of the 10
th and final spot in the NSIC Softball Tournament with four games remaining on the season. Bemidji State is locked in a three-way tie for 11
th in the standings including one of next weekend's opponents, Northern State University.
The Beavers began the weekend with a pair of one-run victory over the Marauders (9-35, 2-20 NSIC) winning by scores of 6-5 and 7-6. BSU totaled 13 runs off 18 hits in the series and was led by senior
Molly Houts who went 3-for-7 with a double, walk and three RBI while sophomore
Morgan Benedict went 2-for-6 with a home run and three RBI.
Senior
Stella Dolan picked up both wins in the circle but fell in game one Sunday to improve to 10-15 on the season. She began the weekend pitching in her 17
th complete game holding Mary to six five runs (two earned) off six hits. She then came in to pitch 4.1 innings in relief of game two to earn the win after allowing two runs off seven hits.
After falling 5-1 in game one against Minot State Sunday, game two was a pitcher's duel with freshman
Danica Sarff having the best outing of her collegiate career. She pitched all six innings for her first career complete game and allowed just one run off three hits and struck out seven batters, one shy of a career high.
However, she was bested by MSU's Gabi Dawyduk who shutout of the Beavers 1-0, and allowed just four hits handing sarff the loss, her 10
th of the year (2-10).
Bemidji State will now return home for a pair of pivotal NSIC doubleheaders at BSU Softball Field hosting Northern State Saturday, April 27 for Senior Day and then Minnesota State University, Moorhead Sunday to close out the 2024 regular season.
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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