ABERDEEN, S.D. – Sophomore outfielder Madison Paige ripped a tie-breaking RBI double and sophomore Tori White pitched solid on the mound to help the Minnesota State University Moorhead softball lteam edge Bemidji State, 4-3 in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday.  The win gave MSUM a split on the day as the Beavers won Game 1 by a 12-0 score in five innings.

MSUM is 9-13 overall and 2-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference while Bemidji State is now 13-13 overall and 2-2 in the league.

In Game 2, freshman first baseman Ashley McCance had a big day at the plate for MSUM, going 3-for-3 with two RBI and a home run.  Sophomore designated hitter Payton Gaber was 2-for-3 with a run scored while Paige and sophomore right fielder Taylor Kelenic were each 1-for-3 with a double and RBI. Sophomore third baseman Emma Dummer was 1-for-2 with a sacrifice, while freshman left fielder Elizabeth Johnson and senior shortstop Aunica Novacek each scored runs.

White picked up her second win of the weekend, pitching a complete game. She struck out five and walked two and allowed three runs, all earned.

"Tori threw a great game, and we had a couple of big hits to score runs," MSUM head coach Kelsey Fehl said. "Ashley had a huge game and we got key doubles from Maddie and Taylor. Our defense was solid. It was a great team win."

MSUM trailed 2-0 after the top of the first inning but got a run back in the bottom of the inning. Johnson reached on an error and moved t osecond. McCance hit a hard single to right field to score her, bringing MSUM within 2-1.

In the second, Novacek walked and was bunted to second by Dummer. Kelenic delivered the big hit of the inning, a double to right center, to tie the game at 2-2.  Bemidji State scored in the third to make it 3-2. In the bottom of the inning, McCance homered – her team-best third of the season – to tie the game at 3-3.

White kept Bemidji off of the scoreboard the rest of the game. With one out, McCance singled, and Gaber followed up with a single. Paige crushed a double to left field to score McCance with the winning run.

White retired the final seven batters she faced to preserve the win.

In the opener, Johnson was 2-for-3 while Dummer, McCance, Gaber, and junior second baseman Lexie Kennedy had hits. MSUM left seven runners on base in the game.

Freshman pitcher Becky Berth took the loss, giving up six runs (four earned) in 2.1 innings. Gaber pitched 2.2 innings and gave up six earned runs.

MSUM is scheduled to play at Minnesota Duluth on Tuesday for a doubleheader, but that has been postponed.