Jesse Palafox enters his second season as an assistant coach, working primarily with the pitchers, for Bemidji State in 2021. Palafox was a member of the BSU program as a pitcher from 2018-19 before joining the coaching staff in 2020.
The Beavers returned to a full schedule in 2021 to finish with an 8-32 record overall and 7-28 mark in the NSIC. BSU won a season series against the University of Mary, 6-4 and 13-8, on Wednesday, April 28 and finished the season with an 11-10 victory over the University of Minnesota Duluth. Junior Logan Barrick threw a complete game win versus UMary while the pitching staff combined for four complete games and two saves. Freshman pitcher Will Lavin led the BSU staff with 35 strikeouts.
During a shortened season in 2020 due to COVID-19, Bemidji State opened the season with back-to-back wins over Rockhurst University at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The Beavers fell in the following 10 games while the season was canceled following its spring trip that was completed on March 11. Senior pitcher Jake Olson threw a complete game shutout with five hits and no walks allowed during an 8-0 victory over Rockhurst. Olson led the BSU pitching staff with 19.0 innings, a 3.79 ERA and an opposing batting average of .250.
Palafox made 28 career appearances with 10 starts on the mound for BSU during his two seasons with the program. He totaled a 6.97 ERA with three saves, two wins, 75 strikeouts and an opposing batting average of .357 in 71.0 innings pitched. Palafox earned his two wins during his senior season with a 5.76 ERA, 57 strikeouts and 25 walks in 50.0 innings.
Palafox graduated from Bemidji State in 2019 with a degree in sport management.
