SOFTBALL: Bemidji drops first 2 state tournament games
Jul. 31—MANKATO — The Bemidji American Legion softball team played in Minnesota's first-ever state tournament game on Saturday, but they couldn't get the rolls to go their way.
Bemidji lost 3-2 to Howard Lake in the early game, then dropped a 6-1 decision to Adams in the consolation bracket during a doubleheader in Mankato.
Against Howard Lake, Bemidji was down 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth, but Audrey Neadeau came up with an RBI double, then scored the tying run on an error later in the frame.
But Howard Lake scratched across the decisive run in the top of the seventh on a two-out RBI single. Bemidji then struck out in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.
Aleah Shogren suffered the loss in the circle, going all seven innings and allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out 10.
Against Adams, allowing a four-run first inning proved costly for Bemidji. Bemidji responded in the top of the second on Maureen Stroeing's RBI triple, but that was all the team's offense the rest of the way.
Shogren again pitched the entirety of the game, this time surrendering six runs (two earned) off eight hits with five strikeouts across six frames.
Bemidji's season still isn't over. They have one contest remaining, as the seventh-place game against Wadena will start at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 31, back in Mankato.
Howard Lake 3, Bemidji 2
HOW 100 100 1 —3-7-4
BEM 000 200 0 — 2-4-1
LP: Shogren (CG, 7 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 10 K)
Adams 6, Bemidji 1
BEM 010 000 0 — 1-4-6
ADMS 400 200 X — 6-8-1
LP: Shogren (CG, 6 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)
