Freshman Stephi Dullum earned two wins in the circle for the Bemidji State University softball team while the Beavers (10-10) totaled 24 hits to go 2-0 on the first day at the Concordia-Moorhead College Games in West St. Paul, Minn. Bemidji State began the day by totaling 14 hits and defeating Finlandia University 10-9 followed by a 7-2 win over Concordia-Moorhead in game two.
Finlandia 9, Bemidji State 10
The Beavers would take game one of the tournament in walk off fashion after a six-run sixth inning by the Lions tied the game. Finlandia started the scoring in the game with two runs in the top of the first but Bemidji State responded to tie in the game in the bottom when senior Alexandra Ripka bombed a two-run homerun. Sophomore Lexi Derrick hit a solo homerun in the second but the Lions were able to tie the game once again in third with a run off of an error.
The Beavers once again took the lead in the bottom of the third when junior Brooke Phillips tripled to bring in a run followed by an RBI single from Makayla Pagel. BSU added to its lead with a sac-bunt from Rochelle Koshalek in the fourth and RBI doubles from Ripka, Derrick and junior Megan Castor in the fifth. However, The Lions would score six in the sixth to tie the game at nine. After holding Finlandia scoreless in the seventh, Kelsey McAllister hit a lead-off double and head coach Rick Supinski called in Lacy Hiltner to pinch run. Stephi Dullum advanced Hiltner to third with a sac-bunt and Castor drove in the game-winning run two batters later.
Brooke Phillips and Lexi Derrick finished with three hits each while Alexandra Ripka led the team with three RBI followed by Derrick and Castor with two. In total, seven Beavers recorded an RBI in the game while BSU totaled 14 hits, the second highest total of the season.
Freshman Stephi Dullum earned the win in the circle after coming on to pitch 2.0 innings in relief and didn’t allow a baserunner while picking up four strikeouts to improve to 4-5 this season.
Bemidji State 7, Concordia-Moorhead 2
The Beavers used an early 3-0 lead to down the Cobbers, 7-2, in the final game, Wednesday. Alexandra Ripka began the scoring with her fourth RBI of the day followed an RBI single from Kelsey McAllister in the top of the first. Jessica Burlingame added to the lead with an RBI double in the second to put BSU up 3-0.
After a scoreless third and fourth innings, the Beavers totaled three runs in the fifth highlighted by a two-run homerun by McAllister. The Cobbers responded with their only two runs in the bottom half of the inning while Rachel Burkland drove in a run off of a fielder’s choice to cap off the Beavers’ scoring in the sixth for the 7-2 victory.
Stephi Dullum held the Cobbers to just five hits and two runs to earn the complete game victory for her second of the day and fifth of the season. Dullum allow just one walk while striking out seven, two shy of a career-best, to improve to 5-5 this season.
The Beavers totaled 10 hits in the game including two from Ripka, McAllister, Burkland and Shania Kinghorn while McAllister totaled three RBI in the game to tie a career high.
Bemidji State continues play at the West St. Paul Dome by facing Bethany Lutheran College and Concordia-Moorhead again today (March 22) at 10 a.m. and noon.