Bruins fall to Park, Oklahoma Baptist at NFCA Leadoff Classic

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Oklahoma Baptist Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- The Bellevue University softball team dropped a pair of games Saturday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, falling to Park, 4-0, before dropping a 9-8 decision in eight innings to Oklahoma Baptist University in the nightcap. 

Bellevue (0-4) will continue action at the tournament with a 9:00 a.m. (EST) game on Sunday (March 1) against Friends University. 

Park 4, Bellevue 0

The Bruins gave up a grand slam in the top of the fifth as Park University shut out Bellevue, 4-0, in BU's final pool play contest of the tournament

The Pirates led off the fifth with consecutive singles by Callie Beaver and Britanee Willard and loaded the bases on a BU fielding error before Shelby Bendure delivered the grand slam with a shot over the left field fence, giving the Pirates all the offense they would need in the 4-0 win. 

Allie Reynolds (1-1) recorded the shutout victory, scattering three hits with eight strikeouts and two walks in seven innings of work. 

Park improved to 1-2 with the win. 

Taylor Mohler (0-2) suffered the loss, giving up eight hits and four walks, while striking out two. 

Oklahoma Baptist 9, Bellevue 8 (8 innings)

The Bison got out of the gate quickly, scoring four runs in the top of the first on five hits, including a pair of double and a two-run homer by Kasey Maddox, forcing starter Kelli Fisher to be replaced by Kristine Kimberley.

The Bruins quickly responded in the bottom half of the first, plating three runs on a one-run single by Ashley Gigax, an RBI double by Alex Tooley and a sacrifice fly to center field by Sayde Woten. 

An RBI double by Hannah Morris increased the OBU lead to 5-3 in the top of the third. 

A solo homer by Shalee Cordell gave the Bison a 6-3 advantge in the fourth. 

Shelby Kindelin's RBI single to center field cut the deficit to 6-4 in the bottom half of the fourth and the Bruins tied it up on a two-run bases-loaded fielding error, before taking a 7-6 lead on another Bison fielding error later in the inning. 

The Bison tied the game at 7-7 in the top of the fifth on a solo home run by Morris. 

Using the international tiebreaker rule, the Bison plated two runs in the top of the eighth, scoring on a passed ball and on a ground-out RBI by Kasey Jo Burgess. 

The Bruins got a run back in the bottom half of the eighth on a ground-out RBI by Sydney Robertson that scored Kendall Hendrix. Bailee Saye forced a fly out and a ground out to end the Bruin threat, giving OBU the 9-8 decision. 

Mohler (0-3), was credited with the loss in relief, allowing two hits with three strikeouts and no walks in 4 1/3 innings in the circle.