BSU Softball Splits Battle of the Beavers with Walk-Off Win

Bemidji State softball secured a walk-off victory over Minot State at the BSU Softball Field on April 18, splitting the annual Battle of the Beavers doubleheader with a 2-1 Game 1 win before falling 5-3 in the nightcap.

The winning run in Game 1 had its origins in the fifth inning, when Jackie Larsen reached on a walk and stole second base. Mariah Stevenson then singled to right center, scoring Larsen to put BSU ahead 1-0. The lead held until the seventh, when Minot State knotted the game at 1-1. BSU answered in the bottom half of the inning, pushing across the decisive run to close out the 2-1 victory.

Game 2 went the other way. Minot State never trailed, built its lead throughout, and added an insurance run in the seventh inning of their 5-3 win.

The result carried extra weight given the rivalry's recent history. In April 2022, Minot State swept BSU 8-0 and 5-1 in the Battle of the Beavers at the MSU Bubble in Minot. Friday's walk-off broke that losing streak in the series between the two NSIC programs that share the Beavers nickname.

BSU entered the doubleheader at 16-28 overall in what was billed as the team's first and final home weekend of the 2025 season. Head coach Jordan Petersen, named the program's 20th head coach in June 2021, was in her fifth year leading the Beavers. Minot State stood at 14-8 after the split.

Senior Day against the University of Mary was scheduled the following afternoon to close out BSU's home schedule for the year.