Bruins split; clinch outright title, #1 seed

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The Bellevue University softball team split with the College of Saint Mary in a Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference double-header on Thursday afternoon at Hall of Fame Fields. CSM claimed a 3-2 triumph in the opener before Bellevue flipped the script with a 3-2 victory of their own in the nightcap.

Bellevue is now 34-11-1 (17-3 MCAC) with the split while the Flames move to 19-13 (11-5 MCAC) on the year. The 17 MCAC victories represent the most in BU history, eclipsing the previous mark of 16 set last season.

With the victory in game two, Bellevue secured their first outright MCAC Regular Season Championship since 2011 and will host next week's MCAC Championship Tournament which will be held at Hall of Fame Fields from April 30-May 1. In the event of rain, the make-up date will be May 2. It marks the 10^th time that the Bruins have won at least a share of the regular season title.

Head Coach Michala Cimino, after the game, said, "It was one of our goals to win the regular season title and our kids really wanted to host the conference tournament. We haven't done so in a while and we feel it's an honor to be able to play at home."

Bellevue will wrap up the regular season on Sunday with a 3:00 p.m. double-header against Midland University at Hall of Fame Fields.

Game One: CSM 3, Bellevue 2

Shelby Kindelin hit a pair of solo home runs but that was all the offense that Bellevue could muster as the Bruins dropped a 3-2 decision to CSM.

CSM jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Mara Eeman touched off on a 2-2 offering from Kelli Fisher, sending the pitch over the left center field fence.

Kindelin wasted no time leveling the score, launching a 3-2 pitch from Leah Kipfer well beyond the center field fence to lead off the Bellevue half of the first. Kindelin gave the Bruins their first lead of the ball game in the bottom of the third with her second long ball of the contest, driving another Kipfer pitch over the fence, this time to right.

The Flames plated the equalizer a half-inning later on a run-scoring groundout by Madison Townsend. An inning later the Flames regained the lead with a two-out RBI-single by Jessica Gargano to score Nicki Larsen from second.

Kendall Hendrix led off the bottom of the seventh with a low hanging infield popup that fell into the Bermuda Triangle area behind the pitcher and between the second baseman and shortstop. A fielder's choice by Kindelin saw Hendrix retired at second and consecutive popups by Ashley Gigax and Emily Gigax saw the Bellevue threat ended.

Kelli Fisher (15-4) was charged with allowing two earned runs (three total) on seven hits and a pair of walks while striking out five.

Game Two: Bellevue 3, CSM 2

Bellevue fell behind early but rallied to take a lead and broke a later tie on Ashley Gigax's RBI-single in the fifth to score a 3-2 victory over the College of Saint Mary.

The Flames struck first, in the top of the third, with an unearned run. Nicki Larsen singled with one out and advanced to second when Sayde Woten made a diving catch on a popped up bunt. She came in to score a batter later on a misplay in the outfield on Jamie Zimmerer's base.

Emily Gigax gave the Bruins the lead in the bottom of the fourth with her first collegiate home run. Ashley Gigax led off the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Courtney Schendt before Gigax drilled a line drive homer over the left center fence.

CSM pulled even with a fifth inning squeeze play. With a pinch-runner at third, Larsen laid a bunt down to pitcher Taylor Mohler who came home with the throw but Sayde Woten's tag was high and Alyssa Beal got in to tie the game at 2-2.

Bellevue didn't let things stay tied for long. The first two batters reached in the bottom of the fifth and moved to second and third, respectively, on a bunt by Sarah Zeleny. Shelby Kindelin rifled a ball of the pitcher's glove that deflected to the second baseman who came home with the throw to nab Alex Tooley for the second out. Ashley Gigax then drove a pitch to left center to chase home the go-ahead run before Kindelin was ruled out to end the inning.

The seventh inning proved a bit more adventurous than desired. Each of the first two CSM batter of the innings drew walks before Mohler was able to induce three straight popups to end the inning and clinch the regular season title.

Mohler (18-6) went the distance allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out three.