JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Bismarck State softball opened its 2026 season on Friday, their first in the NAIA, in Jamestown at the Nelson Family Bubble tournament. The Mystics dropped both games in heartbreaking fashion as they fell 8-7 to Providence (Mont.) and in a 5-4 walk-off loss to MSU Moorhead.

GAME ONE VS UP

The Mystics got things started on Friday afternoon against Providence, where they immediately got a taste of NAIA competition as the Argos put them on the ropes, getting ahead 7-0 after the top of the third. BSC responded in the bottom of the inning as Grace Grimm doubled to drive in the first two runs of the season.

The Argos tacked on another before the Mystics began to chip away at the five-run deficit, thanks to RBI doubles by Leah Rolland and Brielle Wrangham in the fourth, and another Grimm RBI in the sixth, this time a single, to drive in run number six following a UP error allowing the fifth run unearned.

Down to their final two outs in the seventh, Lexi Wesson delivered a pinch-hit solo homer to deep right-center field to bring the Mystics to within one. Kaia Hennings drew a walk to put the tying run on base, but Providence right-hander K. Gull slammed the door to secure the UP 8-7 victory. 

Kathryn Sliman was tagged with the loss, going 2.1 innings and allowing seven runs before giving way to Kaia Hennings, who was effective in relief, going 4.2 innings and allowing just one run.

GAME TWO VS MSUM

In their second game on Friday night, it was the Mystics striking early as they jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the fourth, highlighted by Taylor Falcon's RBI single in the third and a pair of RBI walks from Jada Walter and Grace Grimm. 

The Dragons wouldn't be set down easily, as they chipped away at the lead with two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to tie the game at four heading into the final frame. The Mystics went down in order to leave the door open for MSUM to steal the victory.

They would do just that as a single through the ride side drove in the winning run in walk-off fashion for the Dragons.

Kya Kulzer was nabbed with the loss in relief as she went 1.2 innings, allowing just one earned and striking out two. She relieved Jamison Langlois, who started and worked 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs across the 22 batters she faced.


BSC is back on the road next weekend, Feb. 13 & 14, as they head to Sioux Center, Iowa, to compete in the American State Bank Sports Complex Softball Classic, hosted by Dordt University. They'll get started on Friday against Waldorf (Iowa) at 12 p.m. and round out the weekend with games against Northwestern (Iowa), Briar Cliff (Iowa) and Dordt (Iowa).

Check out the softball schedule for information on how to follow and watch the team during their upcoming games.