BU splits with Royals to end Florida trip
The Bellevue University softball team ended its annual Florida trip with a doubleheader split at Warner University Saturday afternoon, defeating the Royals, 8-5, in the opener before dropping the nightcap, 4-2.
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
LAKE WALES, Fla. -- The Bellevue University softball team ended its annual Florida trip with a doubleheader split at Warner University Saturday afternoon, defeating the Royals, 8-5, in the opener, before dropping the nightcap, 4-2.
Bellevue moved to 9-12 on the season with the split. Warner is now 11-13.
The Bruins return home next weekend (Mar. 16-17) for a four-game conference series with Valley City State University at Roy Smith Field in Omaha. Saturday's doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday's twin-bill will commence at noon.
Game 1: Bellevue 8, Warner 5
The Bruins used three multi-run innings while pounding out 10 hits en route to the 8-5 win in the opener.
Bellevue got out of the gates quickly as the first six Bruins reached base safely to start the contest. BU scored three first-inning runs on three hits, including an RBI single to right field by Leslie Egan. Bellevue also scored on a bases-loaded walk and a bases-loaded hit batsman as BU batted through the lineup.
The Royals quickly answered with an RBI single to left-center field by April Dominguez that sliced the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the first.
Warner took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four runs on five hits to gain a 5-3 advantage. The Royals scored on an RBI single to center field by Andrea Rebello, a run-scoring triple to right-center field by Raelyn Roland, and an RBI double to left field by Dominguez.
The Bruins responded in the top of the fifth with a two-run double to left field by Breanne McMurtry and an RBI double to center field by Madison Machacek to regain the lead at 6-5.
A solo homer to left field by Katie Cunningham and an RBI double to left field by Madison Machacek extended the edge to 8-5 in the top of the seventh.
Cory Carrillo picked up her team-leading fifth save of the season, retiring the side in the bottom of the seventh.
Ellie Zoucha (1-1) earned her first win of the season after not allowing a hit in 2.1 innings of relief.
Madalyn Morton (3-4) suffered the loss, scattering seven hits with one walk and 13 strikeouts in seven innings of work.
Game 2: Warner 4, Bellevue 2
Despite outhitting the Royals, 5-4, WU took advantage of three BU fielding errors to earn the 4-2 win in the nightcap.
An RBI single to right field by Atiana Rodriguez gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the top of the first frame.
Madison Schroeder scored from third following a BU fielding error, tying the contest at 1-1 in the bottom of the third.
The Royals scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth highlighted by a two-run double to left-center field by Roland, giving WU a 4-1 advantage.
The Bruins closed to within two runs at 4-2 with an RBI double to left field by Machacek in the top of the sixth.
BU never threatened in the top of the seventh as the Royals earned the split with the 4-2 victory.
Cunningham suffered the loss, falling to 5-5 on the season, allowing four runs on four hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in six innings in the circle.
Allie Hughes (4-5) earned the complete-game victory, scattering five hits with one walk and six strikeouts in seven innings.