BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University Softball will celebrate its five seniors and the program's alumni this weekend as they host No. 22 Winona State University and Minnesota State University Mankato on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's doubleheader is slated for 1 and 3 p.m. while Sunday is set for noon and 2 p.m.
On Saturday, the Beavers will celebrate seniors
Avery Amidon,
Aubrey Aukerman,
Morgan Benedict,
Jillian Johnson and
Maddie Kielsmeier between games. Sunday's game is for the program's alumni, and the Beavers ask that all alumni in attendance stick around following game two for a group photo on the field.
The Beavers enter the weekend 10-35 overall and 4-18 in the conference after tough battles with University of Minnesota Crookston and University of Minnesota Duluth earlier this week, each of the four games ending in run-rules against the Beavers. Offensively,
Alayna DeGraef leads the Beavers with a .370 batting average through 45 games. She has totaled 51 hits in 138 at bats with 11 extra-base hits this season and 17 runs scored. DeGraef ranks 10
th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference for batting average. On the mound,
Sydney Klusman leads with an ERA of 4.87 and 4-10 record in 24 appearances with three complete games. Pitching 74.2 innings, Klusman has allowed an opposing batting average of .377.
Winona State enters the weekend ranking 22
nd in the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association & GoRout Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll for week 11. The Warriors are 40-7 overall with a 19-3 conference record, splitting with MSU, University of Sioux Falls and St. Cloud State University earlier this season. Most recently, the Warriors swept the Huskies, 4-0, in game one then fell in the second 5-0. Alyssa Woelfel leads the Warrior offense with a .390 batting average, holding fourth in the NSIC. She has grabbed 60 hits in 154 at bats with 46 runs scored and 22 extra-base hits, including eight home runs. In the circle, Jayda Berg leads the way with a 1.96 ERA and 17-3 record.
The Mavericks currently sit in fifth in the NSIC rankings with a 13-9 conference record, going 26-20 overall. MSU has been in a bit of a slump recently, winning one of their last five games but forcing two into extra innings. Most recently, the Mavericks forced the Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears into 10 innings, falling 4-3. They have no shortage of hitters in their offensive lineup with eight batting .301 or above. Hannah Tong leads the Mavericks with a .375 average in 41 games, marking 11 doubles and seven home runs. Junior Maddie Oetzmann leads the Maverick pitching staff with a 3.37 ERA in 27 appearances and allowing a team-best .243 opponent batting average. The Mavericks will head to Minnesota Duluth Saturday before making the trip to Bemidji for Sunday's doubleheader.
Following Saturday's games, fans are invited to join the team in the Beaver Pride Room in John Glas Fieldhouse for a special video presentation to honor the senior class. Fans are also encouraged to get to the games early as the first 40 people will receive 2026 Beaver Softball schedule posters.
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).
