The Bemidji State University softball team was swept in a doubleheader by Minot State University Thursday afternoon, falling 17-1 in five innings and 11-1 to its Beaver counterpart in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play. With the pair of losses, BSU now stands 11-11 overall on the season with a 0-6 mark in conference play.

MISU jumped out to an early lead in the first game and never looked back. Minot State amassed three runs in the first inning, 10 in the second and four more in the fourth for a 17-1 final. The 10-run second inning was powered by a grand slam by Minot State slugger Jen Dixon and a three-run blast by Rachel Burdette to put the game out of reach.

Jessica Yost (P/1B, Fr., Bemidji, Minn.) fell to 3-4 with the loss, while Angie Roberts (OF, Fr., Andover, Minn.) posted a double in the third to drive in Cassie MacArthur (IF, Jr., Cottage Grove, Minn.) for the lone BSU run.

After MISU opened the second game with a home run, BSU countered and tied the game 1-1 with a Megan Bergeson (IF/C, Sr., New London, Minn.) walk to answer the run Minot State put up in the top half with a home run.

BSU’s momentum was short-lived, however, as Minot State scored two in the third, three in the fourth and seventh to seal the 11-1 final.

Katie Backes provided most of the punch for MISU as she notched five hits with six RBI.

Pitcher Danielle Jecmen (Fr., Bloomingdale, Ill.) allowed 11 earned runs over seven innings and fell to 5-5 with the loss.

BSU will continue on its six-game road trip Saturday as it goes up against No. 13 Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. and will finish the weekend against NSIC adversary Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb. Sunday. Both doubleheaders are set to begin at noon.