Beaver Softball returns to action at Lewis Dome Invitational in Illinois

BSU Softball to play five games at Lewis Dome Invitational in Rosemount, Ill.

The Bemidji State University Softball team competes in its second dome tournament of the season this weekend and travel to Rosemont, Ill., to compete in the Lewis dome Invitational hosted by Lewis University. The Beavers (0-4) return to action after a two-week break and will play five games beginning Friday, Feb. 23 and ending Sunday.

Bemidji State starts the tournament facing Truman State University Friday at 3:30 p.m., and then turn around and face Purdue University-Northwest later that evening at 6 p.m. The Beavers will play just one game Saturday and face former Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponent Upper Iowa University at 6:00 p.m. BSU ends the weekend Sunday with a doubleheader against William Jewell College (8:00 a.m.) and No. 5 Grand Valley State University (10:00 a.m.).

The Beavers face Truman State (4-5) and Purdue Northwest (5-3) for the first time in program history. PNW earned the doubleheader sweep over Southwest Minnesota State University on Monday and continues their busy month on Thursday with the start of the Rosemont Dome Invitational against Truman State.

The Beavers return to the diamond for the first time since Feb. 3-4 after going 0-4 in the Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament hosted by St. Cloud State University at the Husky Dome in St. Cloud, Minn.

BSU is led by junior Aimee Christenson at the plate early in the season as she is batting .357 with five hits, one double and drove in one run. She is followed by sophomore Grace Gumiela who is hitting .333 with three hits, one double and one RBI. Junior Alexa Christenson and senior Molly Houts lead the team with four RBI each while Houts paces the Beavers with two extra-base hits.

Senior Stella Dolan made two starts at the tournament and in 13.1 innings, has totaled a 5.78 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and struck out nine batters. Sophomore Elle Hastings follows with 8.2 innings pitched after two appearances and one start and has struck out eight batters.

After this weekend the Beavers will head to Clermont, Fla., for spring break and play 10 games in the Spring Games spanning March 2-7.