SOFTBALL: Bemidji State splits doubleheader to win first game of the season
ST. PAUL –A day after losing its first two games of the season on the first day of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Crossover play, the Bemidji State split a pair of contests on its second day of games at the St. Paul Dome. The Beavers fell 13-2 to Minnesota Duluth before bouncing back with a 9-4 victory over Minnesota State Moorhead.
Against UMD, the Beavers were haunted by errors in the second and third innings and gave up all 13 runs against in those two frames after committing three errors.
BSU got on the board in the fourth inning whenCrystal Bowenhit her third-career home run against her hometown school. It was her first homer since April 28, 2010.
In her third appearance in as many BSU games, freshman pitcherLyndsey Peterson fell to 0-2 after allowing all 13 runs — just four of them earned — while striking out four.
In the second game of the afternoon, the Beavers put their slow start in the past and toppled MSU Moorhead 9-4, avenging a 7-4 loss it suffered to the Dragons Tuesday afternoon.
After dropping her first start of the year in the season-opener,Kelsey Saralampiimproved to 1-1 with a solid outing, pitching a complete game in which she allowed seven hits and struck out five.
Bemidji State’s bats also came alive in the noon game.
Mikayla Ostermancontinued the impressive start to her young career by staking BSU to a 2-0 lead with her second home run in as many days.
BSU’s big inning was the fifth, in which Peterson andNicole Dupay each tallied two runs batted in as a part of a five-run inning that proved to be the difference in the game.Cassie MacArthurdrove in the other run in the inning as a part of a 3-for-4 day from the plate before Bemidji State tacked on two additional runs in the sixth.
Dupay racked up four RBI on the day, also going 3-for-4 at the dish.
The Beavers (1-3) will next play March 1 in St. Cloud against Valley City State.
BSU will take on Dickerson State, St. Cloud State and Minot State March 2 before traveling to Titusville, Fla., for spring training.
