2024 Bellevue Softball News

Season
14 Bruins named Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes
14 Bruins named Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes

Myla Beckstrom, Lexi Blankenfeld, Emma Crisman, Katie Cunningham, Morgan Dreessen, Abby Dworak, Leslie Egan, Laila Fiscus, Keely Geise, Savannah Gunn, Madison Machacek, Breanne McMurtry, Sami Reding, and Alexis Sidel were all named 2023-24 Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athletes.

Six Bruins earn OWH all-Nebraska recognition
Six Bruins earn OWH all-Nebraska recognition

Four Bruin softball players earned first-team Omaha World-Herald all-Nebraska honors, and another two gained honorable mention recognition in an announcement made today by the local newspaper.

Short becomes third signee in 2024-25 recruiting class
Short becomes third signee in 2024-25 recruiting class

Bruin head softball coach Michala Cimino announced today the third signee in BU's 2024-25 recruiting class with the addition of infielder Savannah Short (Independence, Mo./Kansas City Kansas CC/Fort Osage HS). Short will continue her academic and athletic pursuits at Bellevue University beginning in the fall of 2024. 

Cimino signs JC transfer pitcher Mariah Unverzagt
Cimino signs JC transfer pitcher Mariah Unverzagt

Bellevue University head softball coach Michala Cimino announced the signing of 5-8 pitcher Mariah Unverzagt (Papillion, Neb./ Johnson Country CC/Papillion-LaVists South HS) to a letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic careers at BU beginning in the fall of 2024. 

Cunningham named third-team All-American
Cunningham named third-team All-American

Junior pitcher Katie Cunningham (Bellevue, Neb.) was named a third-team NAIA All-American in an announcement made today by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. 

Five Bruins named to CSC Academic All-District team
Five Bruins named to CSC Academic All-District team

Representatives from Bellevue University on the CSC Softball Academic All-District team included outfielder Myla Beckstrom (Omaha, Neb.), junior pitcher Katie Cunningham (Bellevue, Neb.), senior pitcher Savannah Gunn (Forney, Texas), senior third baseman Madison Machacek (Bellevue, Neb.), and junior outfielder Alexa Sidel (Papillion, Neb.). 

Cunningham earns NFCA second-team all-Region honors
Cunningham earns NFCA second-team all-Region honors

Junior pitcher Katie Cunningham has earned National Fastpitch Coaches' Association second-team all-Region III honors in an announcement made today by the NFCA. 

Eight BU softball players named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes
Eight BU softball players named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes

Bruins who were named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes included senior outfielder Myla Beckstrom, senior catcher Lexi Blankenfeld, sophomore shortstop Emma Crisman, junior pitcher Katie Cunningham, sophomore outfielder Leslie Egan, senior pitcher Savannah Gunn, senior third baseman Madison Machacek, and junior outfielder Alexa Sidel. 

Madison Machacek finished 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.
Bruins down St. Xavier in NAIA Opening Round; Madonna up next

The fifth-seeded Bellevue University softball team advanced at the NAIA National Championship Opening Round - Sioux Center Bracket with a 6-4 victory over fourth-seeded St. Xavier University, avenging an earlier loss to the Cougars in the tournament. The Bruins (34-21) will now play second-seeded Madonna University tonight at 7 p.m. in an elimination contest. The game was originally scheduled for 3 p.m. but was delayed due to rain in the area. 

BU ends season with 7-1 loss to Madonna
BU ends season with 7-1 loss to Madonna

Second-seeded Madonna University pounded out five extra-base hits and nine total as the Crusaders defeated the fifth-seeded Bellevue University softball team, 7-1, Wednesday night in an elimination game at the NAIA Opening Round - Sioux Center Bracket being played at Open Space Park.  

Savannah Gunn (left) drove in a run and got the win in the circle. Madison Machacek went 2-for-3 and ended the game on a spectacular double-play at third.
BU stays alive with 2-0 win over Vikings

The fifth-seeded Bellevue University softball team shut out third-seeded Grand View University, 2-0, Tuesday afternoon in an elimination game at the NAIA Opening Round - NWC Bracket being played at Open Space Park. 

Breanne McMurtry went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs to lead the Bruin offense.
BU falls in NAIA Opening Round to Cougars, 4-3

The fifth-seeded Bellevue University softball team surrendered a 3-0 lead as St. Xavier University scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth and won the contest on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the seventh to give the Cougars a 4-3 victory in the opening game of the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round - NWC Bracket Monday afternoon at Open Space Park. 

Bruins earn at-large berth to NAIA National Championship
Bruins earn at-large berth to NAIA National Championship

The Bellevue University softball team will be heading to Sioux Center, Iowa, on  May 13-16 to compete in the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round - Sioux Center Bracket. The Bruins will open play on May 13 against St. Xavier University at Open Air Park.

BU falls in NSAA Championship to Blue Hawks, 4-3
BU falls in NSAA Championship to Blue Hawks, 4-3

After fighting back from a 3-0 deficit to tie the contest, the Bellevue University softball team fell to Dickinson State University, 4-3 in the North Star Athletic Association Championship game Monday afternoon at Bravera Field. 

Bruins stay alive at NSAA Tournament with Sunday split
Bruins stay alive at NSAA Tournament with Sunday split

After dropping the opening game of the day to host school Dickinson State University, 2-0, the Bellevue University softball team battled back to advance to the championship game of the North Star Athletic Association Tournament with a 6-3 win over Valley City State University in BU's second contest of the day.  

Savannah Gunn went 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, and five RBIs.
Gunn powers BU past MSU at NSAA Tournament

First-team all-conference pitcher Savannah Gunn proved she can star at the plate as well, powering the top-seeded Bellevue University softball team to an 8-0 victory over Mayville State University in the Bruins' opening action of the 2024 North Star Athletic Association Tournament Saturday afternoon at Bravera Field on the Dickinson State University campus.