BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University Softball is back on the road this week, heading to Southwest Minnesota State University and the University of Sioux Falls for four Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games. The Beavers take on the Mustangs at 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday then head to battle the Cougars at 12 and 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon. 
 
Bemidji State has faced a few tough weeks of competition lately, going 0-7 with an 0-4 record in the NSIC. This season, the Beavers are sitting at 6-21 after preseason tournaments in St. Cloud, Minn., Rosemont, Ill., Kansas City, Kan. and Viera, Fla. Saturday's games will be the second meeting between BSU and SMSU as the two met at the start of the season during the Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament in St. Cloud. In that meeting, the Mustangs came away with a 7-1 win. The Beavers and Cougars have not seen each other this season. 
 
Sophomore Alayna DeGraef leads the Beavers on offense, grabbing a .382 batting average and .421 on-base percentage. The outfielder has marked a team-leading 34 hits, four doubles and home run with 13 runs scored in 89 at bats. In the field, first baseman Avery Amidon leads the team with 99 putouts, marking a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with no errors and adding five double plays. Junior pitcher Danica Sarff leads the team with a 4.32 ERA, marking a 2-4 record with one shutout win. In 47 innings, Sarff has allowed 41 hits and 29 earned runs, striking out 29 and holding opponents to a .237 batting average. 
 
The Mustangs are 17-13 this season with a 3-1 conference record. Last weekend, the team opened the NSIC season with two wins at Minnesota State University Moorhead and a split day against University of Minnesota Crookston. The second game against UMC saw eight innings with UMC grabbing a walk-off double to go up 4-3. The Mustangs will host University of Minnesota Duluth Sunday afternoon. 
 
SMSU's Riley Kramolisch leads her team from the batter's box, marking a .350 batting average. She also leads in runs scored, hits and triples. On defense, Aliza Acker leads with 138 total putouts on 144 chances, while also fielding six double plays. On the mound, Jordy Marsh leads with an ERA of 1.39 and record of 11-4. She has pitched 15 complete games and won four shutouts with two saves. In 106 innings, Marsh has allowed just 88 hits, 21 earned runs, two home runs and struck out 89 batters.  
 
Following their meeting with the Bulldogs on Saturday, the Cougars will host the Beavers at the Sanford Diamonds on Sunday. USF is 15-14 this season with a 3-1 conference lineup. USF started its NSIC season in the same fashion as SMSU, splitting with UMC and sweeping MSUM. After defeating UMC 9-1, the Golden Eagles came back with a vengeance for game two and shutout the Cougars 3-0. Both games against MSUM ended in 3-2 wins for USF. 
 
Kyra Knudtson leads the way for the Cougars with a .370 batting average. With a .436 on-base percentage, she has grabbed 15 runs, 30 hits, eight doubles and a home run this season. She also leads her team in putouts with 186, one more than catcher Morgan Linstad who comes in second on the team. Maddi Duncan leads the Cougars from the pitching circle, marking a 1.48 ERA with a 9-5 record. In 94.1 innings, Duncan has allowed 54 hits and 20 earned runs, striking out 136 batters and allowing just one home run. 
 
Both double headers are available for streaming on the NSIC Network. Live stats will also be available via the links on the BSU Beavers website. 
 
Next week, the Beavers are set to host their home opener, weather permitting. BSU is set to take on Minot State University on Friday, Apr. 3 at 1 and 3 p.m. at Chet Anderson Stadium, followed by University of Mary on Saturday at 12 and 2 p.m.
 
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).