MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead softball kept its postseason hopes alive on Saturday afternoon as the Dragons earned a Senior Day split with Bemidji State. 

The Beavers claimed game one by a 6-4 count before the Dragons earned a split with a roaring comeback in the bottom of the seventh. MSUM won game two on a walk-off single from Natalie Gonzalez, 6-5. 

Game One

Bemidji State would open the game with two runs on four hits and an error in the top of the first inning. MSUM would respond quickly in the home half as Annika Norman earned a two-out single. In the next at-bat, Eliya Johnson would completely destroy a ball, sending it over the left field fence to tie the game at two runs. Johnson's tater was her sixth of the season Over the next three innings, MSUM starter Brynna Farman would keep the Beavers off the scoreboard while Beaver starter Danica Sarff did the same. Heading into the fifth frame, the teams remained tied at two runs. 

It was the Beavers who would enliven their bats in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs on four hits to take a 6-2 lead. Bemidji State would set the Dragons down in order in the home half to preserve the four-run lead. However, MSUM would cut into the deficit in the sixth inning as Avery Steffen led off the inning with a single. The hit for Steffen was her 66th of the 2025 season, which is a new single-season school record. Norman would single in the next at-bat as the senior would eventually score after an RBI double from Johnson. The senior Johnson would score later in the inning after Natalie Gonzalez reached on a fielder's choice. MSUM would later load the bases in the inning, but would be unable to bring anything else across. Heading into the final inning, Bemidji State led, 6-4. 

The Dragons would have an opportunity to tie the game in the seventh after Steffen notched another single. Steffen would move over to third base later in the inning, but the Beavers would hang on for the 6-4 win. 

Game Two

Teagan Clemmons would see a strong beginning to her afternoon for the Dragons in game two, setting the Beavers down in order in the first. MSUM woud rally from there as Jessie Henry earned a leadoff single, followed by a single from Steffen. Norman would drive in Henry in the next at-bat to break the scoreless tie in favor of the Dragons. The hit parade was not done as Johnson collected a single in the next at-bat, driving in another run for the Dragons. Clemmons would hold the Beavers in check again in the second inning to retain the 2-0 lead. 

Bemidji State would answer back in the third inning, however, scoring five runs on five hits to regain the lead, 5-2. MSUM would get a run back in the home half of the third as Johnson drove home Steffen on an RBI single, making the count 5-3. The Dragons would again have the bases loaded in the frame with one out, but fell victim to a double play, neutralizing the threat. From there, Clemmons would dial in, setting down the Beavers in order in the fourth inning and only allowing two hits across the fifth and sixth frames. 

Offensively, the Dragons would struggle to find baserunners in the fifth and sixth frames outside of singles from Johnson and Clemmons. After Clemmons held the Beavers scoreless again in the top of the seventh, MSUM had one final shot, with potentially their season hanging in the balance. The freshman Henry would get a rally started with a leadoff triple. Henry would be tagged out at home in the next at-bat before Norman was set down for the second out of the inning. With their backs against the wall and one runner on base (Steffen), the Dragons responded. 

Johnson would crack an RBI double in the next at-bat, scoring Steffen from first base and making the score 5-4 in favor of the Beavers. For Johnson, it was her sixth RBI of the afternoon. Mary Schmidt would come in and stripe a single in the next at-bat to drive home Johnson and tie the game at five runs. Head coach Vanessa Kellems would place Chloe Christie on second base in place of Schmidt to provide MSUM the right amount of speed. As the senior Gonzalez stepped up, she did not waste much time in concluding the game in thrilling fashion. Gonzalez would smack a single up the middle, scoring Christie from second base with ease and securing a 6-5 win for the Dragons. 

Up Next

MSUM (17-36, 9-17 NSIC) is set to host Minnesota Crookston tomorrow in the final doubleheader of the 2025 regular season. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.