BU defeats Viterbo, 10-2, 7-1, to sweep NSAA doubleheader

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
NSAA Standings

LA CROSSE, Wis. -- The Bellevue University softball team overcame a slow start in the opener before cruising to a doubleheader sweep at Viterbo University Saturday afternoon at V-Hawks Softball Field in North Star Athletic Assocation (NSAA) action. The Bruins won the opener, 10-2, and the nightcap, 7-1. 

Viterbo scored in the bottom of the seventh in both games to avoid being shut out in each contest. 

Bellevue improved to 27-17 on the season and 14-4 in the NSAA. Viterbo fell to 8-37 overall and 2-15 in league play. 

The two teams will complete the four-game series with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Sunday (April 24) in La Crosse.

Game 1: Bellevue 10, Viterbo 2

After four scoreless innings, the Bruins plated 10 runs in the final three innings and Kelli Fisher tossed a one-hitter, as BU cruised to the 10-2 win in the opener.

Bellevue outhit the V-Hawks 13-1 in the victory.  

Neither team scored until Sarah Zeleny's RBI infield single scored Sayde Woten from third to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning. 

A two-run homer to right center by Kayla Young, an RBI double by Emily Gigax, and a two-run single by Erin Sharpe sparked a six-run sixth inning as BU extended the lead to 7-0. 

A run-scoring single to left by Woten and a two-run double to right by Gigax made it 10-0 in the top of the seventh.

Two-straight Bruin throwing errors allowed the V-Hawks to score their first run in the bottom of the seventh and an RBI single by Tessa DeSmith spoiled Fisher's no-hitter and made the final, 10-2. 

Gigax finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two doubles to pace the Bruin offense. Young and Zeleny both had three hits in the win. 

Fisher improved to 17-10 on the season, allowing just one hit, while striking out nine and walking just one in seven-complete innings. 

Game 2: Bellevue 7, Viterbo 1

The Bruins wasted no time scoring in the nightcap as BU plated four runs in the top of the first on a two-run homer by Young and RBI singles by Sharpe and Michaela Miller. 

A one-run single up the middle by Maddie Siedlik extended the margin to five runs and Sharpe scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch to give BU a 6-0 lead in the top of the second. 

A solo homer to left center by Sharpe gave the Bruins a 7-0 advantage in the fourth frame. 

A bases-loaded ground-out RBI by Anna Lensmire in the bottom of the seventh help the V-Hawks avoid the shutout, making the final, 7-1.

Sharpe (9-7) got the win in the circle, scattering 10 hits with five strikeouts and no walks in 6.1 innings of work. Sharpe also led BU at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, a home run and three runs scored.