ROSEMONT, Ill. – Bemidji State University Softball started the Lewis Dome Invitational with a pair of losses to Purdue University Northwest and Lewis University.
The Beavers (2-3) dropped game one to the Lions (1-1) with a 7-0 shutout for PNW. The first inning went scoreless for both teams. Things picked up for PNW in the second inning when the Lions grabbed four runs with two outs on the board. PNW was able to grab three single hits and advance four runners to home plate. Following the scoring run,
Elle Hastings jumped into the pitching spot for the Beavers, sending
Payton Prissel to the dugout.
Scoring halted for the Lions until the top of the fifth when PNW doubled to left field and followed it with a single to right, advancing the first batter all the way to home. Freshman pitcher
Keira Lucero appeared in her first collegiate games after the score change, taking over for Hastings. Lucero saw a pair of batters before PNW was able to score again on a fielder's choice play.
The Lions would add one more run in the top of the sixth after a triple to left field set them up perfectly or a run on a ground out to second during the next play.
Against PNW, BSU found 26 at bats with six hits and three walks.
Alexa Christenson grabbed a pair of hits, along with
Mariah Stevenson, while
Calleigh Richards and
Molly Houts each added one of their own. Beaver batters were walked three times with six strikeouts and eight runners left on base. Christenson and Stevenson also marked a pair of doubles.
Payton Prissel was given the loss on the day after pitching 1.2 innings and allowing five hits, four earned runs and one walk.
Bemidji State (2-4) fell to the Lewis University (5-6) with a final score of 5-1. Bemidji State took an early lead in the top of the first inning when Richards singled to center field, driving in Larsen who had previously reached on a fielder's choice and stolen second base. This early momentum gave Bemidji State a 1-0 advantage. Bemidji State's defense held strong in the bottom of the first, with LU unable to capitalize on their two hits as they left two runners stranded.
In the third inning, LU evened the score. After a single by Garden and another by Magdziasz, a fielder's choice allowed Garden to score, tying the game at 1-1. Bemidji State managed to contain the damage, retiring the next batter and preventing further scoring in that inning.
The sixth inning was pivotal for the Flyers as they broke the tie with a four-run surge. The sequence began with a series of walks and a wild pitch, setting the stage for Hoffman's RBI single. This was followed by Jensen's fielder's choice and a two-RBI single by Dziuba. By the end of the inning, Lewis had extended their lead to 5-1.
Bemidji State was unable to generate additional offense in the final innings. Despite a single from Stevenson in the sixth, the team could not bring any runners across the plate. LU maintained their lead and closed the game with a 5-1 victory.
Kennedy Joachim pitched 5 innings, allowing 4 hits and 1 earned run while striking out 5 batters and walking none.
Danica Sarff faced two batters, allowing 2 walks and 2 earned runs without recording an out.
Payton Prissel pitched 2/3 of an inning, giving up 4 hits and 2 earned runs with a wild pitch.
Elle Hastings pitched 1/3 of an inning without allowing a hit or a walk, successfully recording a groundout.
Mariah Stevenson stood out for Bemidji State, recording two hits in three at-bats while striking out once, contributing solidly from the third spot in the lineup.
Calleigh Richards also made an impact with a hit and an RBI.
Kennedy Joachim pitched five innings, yielding four hits and one earned run, while striking out five and walking none, showcasing her control on the mound.
The Beavers take on the Wayne State University Warriors at 9 am Friday followed by Roosevelt University at 1:30 p.m. They'll close the weekend out with Upper Iowa University and Hillsdale College on Saturday.
For more information on the Bemidji State Softball program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X (@BSUBeaversSB), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and like 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 and women's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
