BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University Softball travels to Duluth, Minn. Wednesday and Sioux Falls, S.D. Saturday for a pair of double headers against University of Minnesota Duluth and University of Sioux Falls.
 
The Beavers enter the week at 14-14 overall with a 1-3 record in conference play. Last weekend, BSU dropped a pair of games to Concordia University, St. Paul, evening out their record at 50 percent wins for the first time since the team split the Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament and Lewis Dome Invite in February. They then added a win and a loss against Southwest Minnesota State University Saturday. Saturday's win officially put the Beavers over the hump of collecting more wins than last season, which sat at 13. 
 
Graduate outfielder Molly Houts has the hottest bat on the team currently with a .354 batting average and .443 slugging percentage. She leads the team with two triples in 79 at bats and has appeared and started in all 28 games this season. While at the Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. Houts grabbed the BSU program record for most times hit by pitch and continues to increase that number almost every series. On the mound, freshman Kennedy Joachim leads the way with a 2.00 ERA and 8-4 record in 13 appearances. She has struck out 94 batters with 18 walks and 23 earned runs. 
 
At the Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament, the Beavers and Bulldogs met just once and the Beavers walked away with an 8-3 win. The first inning was packed with runs as both teams found two to start the game off. BSU then added four in the third and one in the fourth before UMD added one in the fifth. BSU closed it out with one more run in the sixth. 
 
Minnesota Duluth is 20-10 overall with an 0-2 record in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The pair of losses in NSIC play has forced UMD into a two-game losing streak after falling 8-6 and 13-2 to Winona State University last Friday. Nicole Schmitt leads the Bulldogs with a .485 batting average, .897 slugging percentage, 33 runs scored, 47 hits, 17 walks, 48 RBIs, 10 home runs and 87 total bases this season over the course of 97 at bats. Allyssa Williams leads the efforts on the mound with a 2.91 ERA and a record of 8-6 with 17 appearances. She has allowed 63 hits, 37 runs and 31 earned runs. 
 
Previously scheduled for Sunday, BSU's matchup against USF has been shifted to Saturday to account for cold weather projected for Sunday. BSU and USF have not met this season and have not seen each other since a double header exactly one year prior to Saturday's game. Last season, BSU fell to USF in four games, the first two at the Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament and the second pair during regular season, NSIC play. 
 
Sioux Falls sits at 13-13 overall with a 1-3 record in the NSIC. Prior to their meeting with the Beavers, the Cougars will host Minnesota State University, Mankato and University of Minnesota Crookston. The Cougars are currently on a three-game losing streak after splitting a series with the University of Mary and being swept by Minot State University. Savanna Isaacson leads USF in runs, hits, RBIs, doubles, triples and home runs, along with holding second in batting average at .373. USF's top batting average goes to Morgan Linstad at .420. Maddi Duncan is the team's top pitcher with a 3.16 ERA and .186 opposing bat average with an 8-6 record in 20 appearances. 
 
Following this week, BSU will head to St. Cloud State University on Tuesday before, hopefully, kicking off the home season on Apr. 5 against Winona State. All NSIC softball games are available for streaming on the NSIC Network with live statistics also available. 
 
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).