BU opens NSAA play with sweep at Viterbo
The Bellevue University softball team opened North Star Athletic Association play with a doubleheader sweep at Viterbo University Saturday afternoon at the Viterbo Athletic Conference. BU won by scores of 8-0 (6 innings) and 7-5.
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
NSAA Standings
LA CROSSE, Wis. -- The Bellevue University softball team opened North Star Athletic Association play with a doubleheader sweep at Viterbo University Saturday afternoon at the Viterbo Athletic Conference. BU won by scores of 8-0 (6 innings) and 7-5.
With the two wins, the Bruins improved to 12-7 on the season and 2-0 in the NSAA. VU dropped to 2-12 overall and 0-2 in league play.
The two teams will complete the four-game series with a noon doubleheader on Sunday.
Game 1: Bellevue 8, Viterbo 0 (6 innings)
The Bruins pounded out 12 hits while Katie Cunningham tossed a one-hit complete-game shutout as BU took the opener, 8-0, in six innings.
An RBI double to center field by Madison Machacek gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning.
BU increased the lead to 5-0 in the top of the third, highlighted by a two-run single down the left-field line by Katie Cunningham and an RBI single to center field by Atiana Rodriguez.
The Bruins tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth on an RBI double to center field by Sami Reding and on an RBI single through the right side by Liana McMurtry, making it 7-0.
A solo homer to right field by Reese Floro pushed the margin to 8-0 in the top of the sixth frame.
Cunningham struck out nine batters while walking just one and allowing one hit in six innings of work to improve to 5-4 on the season.
Game 2: Bellevue 7, Viterbo 5
Second baseman Liana McMurtry went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs to lead the BU offense to the 7-5 victory in the nightcap.
The Bruins took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first on McMurtry's three-run homer to center field.
Viterbo scored its first run of the day on a solo homer to left field by Morgan James in the bottom of the second, slicing the BU lead to 3-1.
Bellevue responded in the top of the third with an RBI single to left field by McMurtry to push the advantage back to three runs at 4-1.
A two-run homer to center field by Floro increased the margin to five runs at 6-1 in the top of the fourth frame.
James' second home run of the game, a two-run shot to center field, brought the V-Hawks to within three at 6-3 in the bottom of the fourth.
After starter Cory Carrillo was replaced by Cunningham in the bottom of the sixth, VU drew to within one run at 6-5 on a two-run single to left field by Alina Garstka.
BU added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, scoring on an RBI single to right field by Lauren Jurek that scored McMurtry from second to make it 7-5.
Cunningham retired the side, including two strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh to secure her first save of the season. Carrillo was credited with the win, improving to 3-1 on the season. She allowed four runs on five hits with one walk and nine strikeouts in five innings of work.
Payton Lamont suffered the loss, giving up six runs on five hits with one walk in four innings in the circle.