Mar. 18, 2007

[WU box][ESU box]

EMPORIA, Kan. – The Bemidji State University softball team finished up the Emporia State Tournament with back-to-back losses to Washburn and seventh-ranked Emporia State on Sunday in Emporia Kan. Washburn downed BSU 7-3, and ESU shut out the Beavers 4-0.

In the early game, Bemidji State held a 3-1 lead with an Amy Klaers (So., INF, Elk River, Minn.) RBI-double heading into the Washburn half of the fifth. But WU had a string of three extra-base hits, including back-to-back home runs by Brooke DeVader and Dani White to cap off a four-run burst.

Washburn used a two-run home from pitcher Kayla Long for a couple insurance runs in the sixth before retiring the Beavers in the top half of the seventh.

Klaers led BSU’s offense in the game, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Ali Willard (So., P, Hutchinson, Minn.) pitched a complete-game on the mound for the Beavers, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits, while striking out four and walking four.

In the nightcap, BSU faced off against no. 7 Emporia State. ESU entered the game with a 19-7 record on the season and shut out BSU by a score of 4-0.

BSU managed just four hits in the game with one single each from outfielder Brittney Bolstad (Fr., International Falls, Minn.), infielders Bridget Smith (So., Burnsville, Minn.) and Mara Johnson (So., Bemidji, Minn.), and designated hitter Jessica Pullar (So., Elk River, Minn.).

Kristen Paine kept the powerful ESU offense in check, allowing just four runs (three earned) in a complete game with 10 hits and two strikeouts.

The Beavers record drops to 0-7 on the season heading into a two-week stretch before their next game against Wisconsin-Superior on April 5 in a 2 p.m. doubleheader. The UWS game will be the home-opener for BSU.

-bsu-