Ellis, Neumann pace Bruins in opener, 8-0

Box Score

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Junior Brooke Ellis drove in three runs and Amanda Neumann notched her fifth shutout of the season as the top-seeded Bellevue University softball team opened the 2011 MCAC Tournament with an 8-0 win over fourth-seeded Oklahoma Wesleyan University Thursday afternoon at Hall of Fame Fields.

The Bruins advanced to tonight's 6:30 p.m. second round matchup against the winner of the Peru State College against York College contest.

Ellis finished 2-for-3 with a double. Neumann also produced at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Kathryn Wardian was 1-for-2 with a home run.

Neumann struck out six batters and did not allow a walk while improving to 20-8 on the season.

Wardian belted the first pitch of the second inning over the center field fence to give BU a 1-0 advantage.

One-run singles by Ellis and Melissa Ackley  highlighted a four-run Bruin third inning to extend the margin to 5-0.

An two-run double by Ellis and an RBI double by Kim Wees gave Bellevue an 8-0 lead in the fourth frame.

Line Score
Bellevue....................014 30 - 8 13 0
Oklahoma Wesleyan..000 00 - 0 4 3
WP: Neumann (20-8)
LP: Kelley (9-17)
2B: BU - Neumann, Wees, Ellis
HR: BU - Wardian