BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University Softball heads on the road Friday and Saturday for the Top Gun Midwest College Classic in Shawnee, Kan. Games against Emporia State University and Fort Hays State University, originally scheduled for Sunday, have been cancelled due to projected low temperatures in the area.
 
The Beavers start the weekend at 10 a.m. against the Newman University Jets on field one of the Mid-America Sports Complex. This will be the first meeting between the Beavers and Jets in program history. Newman is currently sitting at 3-5, winning their first three games but losing the past five, including losses to Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference members Wayne State College and University of Minnesota Crookston. 
 
Game two is set for a 12:15 p.m. first pitch between Bemidji State and (RV) Washburn University on field two. The Beavers are 0-3 all time against the Ichabods with the most recent meeting happening in 2007. WU is 17-3 this season, receiving votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and GoRout Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll. Eight of the Bods' wins came in shortened games, including a five-inning, 15-2 win at Minnesota State University Mankato. 
 
On Saturday, the Beavers start their day with Missouri Western State University at 12:15 p.m. from field six. The Beavers and Griffins have met six times since 2007 with the Griffins posting a 5-1 record. Most recently, the two teams met in March of 2024 where BSU fell 9-0 and 14-5. MWSU is 12-2 this season.
 
The final game of the weekend, set for 4:45 p.m. from field five, posts the Beavers against the University of Central Missouri Jennies. The Jennies are sitting at 9-2 this season, currently on a four-game winning streak and have the 2-0 advantage in the all-time series against the Beavers. Most recently, UCM took down Minnesota State and Minnesota Crookston at the Washburn Invitational. 
 
The Top Gun Midwest College Classic is available for streaming through Baller TV. Live stat links are available on the BSU Beavers website. 
 
Next week, the Beavers return home for a few days before getting back on the road, or into the air in this case, to head to Florida for the Space Coast Spring Games in Melbourne, Fla. BSU is set to play 10 games at the USSSA Space Coast Complex from Mar. 6 until Mar. 11, including a rematch against Roosevelt University. Game opponents, dates and times for this tournament are subject to change. 
 
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).