Beavers earn sweep of Mary after two quality pitching performances
Sophomore pitcher Stella Dolan and senior Kaidron McClafferty held the University of Mary softball team to just one run over two games to help the Bemidji State University softball team sweep the Marauders Thursday afternoon in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.
Dolan helped the Beavers earn a 5-1 victory in game one then McClafferty followed by pitching her second career complete game shutout in a 1-0 victory in game two.
Bemidji State got its scoring started in the third inning of game one when freshman Mariah Stevenson hit a RBI double followed by another RBI double from senior Elaina Christiansen. Junior Ashley Herold drove in a run off a sacrifice fly later in the inning to give the Beavers a 3-0 lead early. Mary then followed in the bottom half with a solo home run for its lone run of the game.
BSU extended its lead to 5-0 in the top of the seventh with RBI hits from Herold and Yeager.
Dolan was dominant in the circle for the Beavers to earn her fifth victory of the season (5-13). She allowed just the solo home run and seven hits total while also earning five strikeouts.
Bemidji State totaled 12 hits in the game led by Christiansen who went 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Freshman Alexa Christenson, Herold and freshman Johnna Seriano each followed with two hits.
Game two was a pitcher’s duel between McClafferty and Mary’s Nicole Eckhardt.
The lone run of the game would come off the bat of Alexa Christenson when she hit her first career home run, a solo shot to right field in the third inning.
McClafferty and the Beavers’ defense would hold the Marauders to just two hits in the game both by Mary’s Erin Murphy. Mary would only have a total of four baserunners throughout the game.
McClafferty earns her fourth win of the season and improves to 4-10 on the season after the complete game shutout where she allowed two hits, two walks and struck out one.
Bemidji State was held to just four hits in the game with Christenson’s being the most important. She finished the game 1-for-3 while junior Emmarie Yeager led the Beavers by batting 2-for-3 with two singles.
Bemidji State continues play at Chet Anderson Stadium this weekend and will hoste Wayne State College and No. 12 Augustana University for a pair of doubleheaders scheduled for April 24-25.