SIOUX FALLS – Advancing to the second day of the NSIC Tournament for the third consecutive year after splitting their games on Thursday, University of Sioux Falls Softballs dropped a hard-fought 3-1 decision to Bemidji State and were eliminated from the conference tournament and ending their season. The Cougars (30-28) recorded their 30th win of the season with their first-round win over Northern State, making if four consecutive seasons under head coach Kelsey Thompson in which USF has reached the 30-win threshold.
 
On Friday, USF was held to four hits by Bemidji State's first-team All-NSIC pitcher Jessica Yost. Emily Hove provided USF's only run on one of those four hits, hitting a two-out homerun, her third of the season, a solo shot in the top of the second to give the Cougars a brief lead.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the second, BSU's Alexandra Ripka responded with a solo homerun to tie the game. After Hove's dinger in the second, the Cougars offense stalled and managed just two hits over the next five innings, singles from Emma Schifferle and Britni Broussard in the fourth and sixth, respectively.
 
USF starting pitcher Kerrigan Hoshaw had managed to avoid any series damage in the first five innings, despite giving up eight hits over the first five innings. However, the Beavers finally capitalized on their baserunners – they stranded eight in the first five innings – scoring twice to go ahead in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Yost was still extremely effective in the seventh as she retired the Cougars in order in their final trip to the plate.