April 17, 2004

[BSU vs. SMSU box] [BSU vs. WSU box]

CROOKSTON, Minn. -- At Day 1 of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Crossover hosted by Minnesota,Crookston, the Bemidji State softball team lost two decisions, 1-3 to Southwest Minnesota State and 0-10 in six innings to Winona State. The Beavers saw senior hurler Leah Bowen depart in the third inning versus SMSU due to a sprained ankle.

Bowen was strolling right along against the Mustangs before her setback, tossing three innings of perfect ball. She got some offensive support before she even took the mound.

In the top of the first inning, freshman Nikki Eckebrecht took first on a hit-by-a-pitch with two outs. She advanced to third after sophomore Megan Woslager reached on an error. With runners on the corners, Eckebrecht and Woslager pulled off the double steal. Eckebrecht plated just BSU’s fourth run in the first inning this season.

Junior Katie McKenzie relieved Bowen in the top of the fourth and gave up the tying run in the fourth and two more in the sixth. Going four innings, McKenzie was saddled with the loss - she gave up just one earned run with one strikeout and no base on balls.

Against Winona State, BSU ignited its offense early-on with three of its four hits coming in the first two innings. Trailing 1-0 in the second, junior Jamie Fisher slapped a single to center and advanced to second on a opposite-field single by McKenzie. However, the rally was stalled as the WSU pitcher fanned the next Beaver.

Leading 6-0 in the fifth frame, the Warriors put up four more runs in the sixth to go up 10-0. Thereafter, WSU shut down BSU in order in the bottom of the sixth to win the sixth inning affair.

McKenzie took the loss on the mound for the Beavers, going all six frames allowing 10 runs, nine earned, on 15 hits. Steph Fritz gained the shutout win with three strikeouts and no walks.

The Beavers drop to 0-17 on the season, which is the second worst start in school history - the 1985 team went 0-22. Also, BSU has lost 19 straight dating back to last year, which is the second longest in reported history; there was a 27-game losing streak during the 1984 and 1985 seasons.

The Beavers wrap up NSIC Crossover play with three games on deck tomorrow. At 9:00 a.m., BSU faces Concordia-St. Paul before going against Wayne State (Neb.) at 1:00 p.m. and Northern State at 3:00 p.m.