Bruins sweep Park to clinch MCAC regular season title

BELLEVUE, Neb. – The Bellevue University softball team swept Park University in dramatic fashion Saturday afternoon, winning 2-0 and 10-9 in nine innings to clinch the MCAC regular-season title and home field advantage for the conference tournament.

The Bruins overcame an 8-3 deficit in the nightcap, including scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game and send it to extra innings.

In the ninth inning, Bellevue got a lead-off single from Sarah Ingraham. Erica McCoy’s sacrifice bunt put Ingraham in scoring position as Whitney Kinman’s single to left center scored the winning run.

Bellevue improved to 24-11 overall and remained undefeated in conference play at 10-0. The Bruins do have two games against York, but a worst case scenario still gives Bellevue the tie-breaker over the Pirates. Park fell to 17-6 overall and 6-2 in the league.

In game one Bellevue University took a quick 1-0 lead when Kady Revis scored on a Jordann Ellis double to right field. The score remained the same until the fifth when Whitney Kinman registered her first homer of the season. That would be the game final (2-0) as Bellevue held Park scoreless for only the second time all year.

The second game of the twin bill was what it was expected. Park scored two runs in the top of the second taking a quick lead. Bellevue cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second but gave up two runs in the top of the third.

Back and forth it would go, Park would score then Bellevue would cut down the lead. Down 8-3 heading into the fifth, the Bruins scored two runs cutting the deficit to three (8-5).

After holding the Pirates scoreless in the top of the seventh, Bellevue mounted their rally. Nikki Sedlak picked up a single with one out and Sarah Ingraham followed that with a 2-run homer to left-center, her first career homerun.

With two outs and Erica McCoy on first base, Kady Revis tripled home the runner to bring the Bruins within one (9-8). Amanda Martines, hitless in the game, doubled to bring home Revis tying the game.

To the ninth, Sarah Ingraham singled and eventually scored the game-winner on a single to left field.

In the first game pitcher’s duel, Bellevue had four hits scattered among four different players. Kady Revis was 1-for-2 with a run as Jordann Ellis finished 1-for-2 at the plate with a RBI. Kora Behrens pitched the complete game shutout scattering a pair of hits with 8 strikeouts. She improves to 9-5 on the season.

Bellevue’s 5-7 hitters went a combined 6-for-11 with 6 runs and 2 RBI’s. Kate Lefter (2-for-3) hit her fourth homer of the year as Kendra Gansz (2-for-5) went deep for the fourth time also. Sarah Ingraham, part of the middle of the line-up, went 2-for-3 hitting her first career homer – a part of Bellevue’s four-run seventh inning. Whitney Kinman was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI’s. Aly Bowers pitched 3 1/3 innings allowing 8 runs, 6 earned, on 9 hits. Alissa Crumley improved to 5-2 on the season pitching the final 5 2/3 innings of relief striking out three. She only surrendered one run on 3 hits.

Ashley Scates and Emily Calder had the only hits in game one for the Park Pirates. Justine Riner falls to 8-2 on the year following the complete game loss. Riner surrendering 4 hits and 2 runs registering 8 strikeouts.

Game two the Pirates came out slugging scoring two runs in the first. Jamie Garman went 2-for-3 with 3 runs hitting a grand slam in the fourth. Garman’s second homer came in back-to-back plate appearances in the sixth. She finished with 4 RBI’s. Jennifer Cordell was 3-for-5 at the plate with 2 RBI’s. Kristen Hanson and Emily Calder each scored twice.

Brittany Johnson had the no decision allowing 2 2/3 innings giving up 3 runs on 3 hits. Jamie Garman went 2 innings of relief giving up 2 runs and 3 hits. Justin Riner, who entered the weekend with only one loss and an ERA of under 1.00, suffered her second loss in consecutive outings. Riner (8-3) pitched the final 3 2/3 innings of the game allowing 5 runs on 7 hits with 4 strikeouts.