ST. CLOUD, Minn. - The Concordia-St. Paul softball team (14-11) closed out their non-conference schedule on Sunday, defeating Bemidji State (11-11) 12-4 in five innings. The Golden Bears head into conference play on a three-game winning streak, out-scoring opponents 26-7 during that stretch.

The Beavers threatened to score in the first inning, putting runners on second and third with one out. CSP starting pitcher Bryanna Olson worked her way out of the jam, striking out the final two batters to leave the runners stranded. 

Bemidji State's starter, Kyla Damerow, did not fare as well with runners on base. With Avery Johnson on third, Annalise Scamehorn came through with a single to left field to bring her in for the first run of the game. The Bears put two in scoring position after a Taylor Griffin double and put another run on the board on a Clara Heislen RBI single. Alexus Houston helped CSP continue to pile on runs with a three-run home run, to build the lead to 5-0. Grace Beseman knocked Damerow out of the game three pitches later with a double down the third base line. Gabi Bingham replaced Damerow and picked up the final two outs, but not before giving up another run on a Sydney Pelzer sacrifice fly.

The Golden Bears chased Bingham out of the game in the next inning. After a one out walk, Griffin homered to pick up two RBI. Another walk to Heislen prompted Bemidji to make their second pitching change, bringing in freshman Alle Hastings. Houston gave the rookie a rude welcome, putting Hasting's third pitch over the left field wall for her second home run in as many at-bats. Hastings collected the final two outs, but the damage was done and the Golden Bears had a commanding 10-0 lead heading into the fourth inning. 

The BSU offense finally came alive in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with one out. Alexa Christianson converted on the opportunity for the Beavers, picking up three RBI with a triple to clear the bases. A sacrifice fly from right fielder Molly Houts drove in Christianson to give Bemidji State another run and lower the scoring deficit to six. 

Concordia got one back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring their eleventh run of the game on a Danni Sharum RBI double to drive in Riley Rosenthal. With CSP one away from ending the game with the eight-run rule, Olson shut Bemidji down in the top of the fifth. The junior put away the Beavers in order, striking out the final two. 

Concordia ended it in the bottom of the inning, manufacturing a run to put them up eight. Heislen got it started with a leadoff single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Beseman moved the runner to third with a fly-out to right field. Rachel Novak finished it off with a walk-off single to give the Golden Bears the 12-4 five inning victory.

Olson improves to 9-6 on the year after another solid outing. In five innings she gave up four runs on five hits while striking out six. The junior's ninth complete game puts her in  a three-way tie for the most in the NSIC.
Alexus Houston finished as the game's top batter for the Golden Bears. The outfielder was 3-for-3 with a double, two home runs and five RBI. Taylor Griffin was also effective in the batters box, going 2-for-3 with a double, home run and two RBI. 

UP NEXT
The CSP softball team is set for conference play and will host Minnesota State (11-7) for a double header on March 29.