BU opens season with wins over Sterling and Mission
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 1 |
|
|
1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 5 | 8 | 1 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 1 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
BRANSON, Mo. -- The Bellevue University softball team opened the 2025 season with a pair of wins at the Branson Bash Classic on Friday, downing Sterling College 5-3 in the opener before ending the day with an 11-1 victory over Mission (Mo.) University in the nightcap.
The Bruins conclude the tournament on Saturday with an 11 a.m. contest against Calumet University of St. Joseph and a 2 p.m. matchup versus No. 7-ranked Central Methodist University.
Despite being outhit 9-8, the Bruins used timely hitting and clutch pitching from Katie Cunningham and Mariah Unverzagt en route to the 5-3 win over Sterling in the opener.
The Bruins took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a solo homer to left field by Atiana Rodriguez. BU increased the margin to 4-0 in the bottom of the second on an RBI single to center field by Unverzagt, a run-scoring double to center field by Miranda Garcia, and an RBI single to left field by Kaitlyn Fisher.
Sterling got on the board in the top of the fifth frame when Mariah Cunningham's bases-loaded single drove in Kelly Hirlas, slicing the advantage to 4-1. Bryley Westfahl grounded into a double play to end the inning as BU avoided further damage in the inning.
A sacrifice fly to center field by Katie Cunningham drove in Rodriguez from third, extending the BU lead to 5-1 in the bottom half of the fifth.
The Warriors responded in the top of the sixth inning with an RBI infield single by Maria Casillas and a sacrifice fly to center field by Mallory Siedel that plated Aiyana Campos, making it 5-3.
Unverzagt replaced Cunningham in the top of the sixth and allowed a single to start the seventh before inducing three straight groundouts to earn the save.
Cunningham (1-0) picked up the win, scattering six hits with one walk and five strikeouts in five innings of work.
Allie Olivarria (0-1) was tagged with the loss, giving up five runs on eight hits with four walks and four strikeouts in six innings in the circle.
Bellevue pounded out 12 hits, including three home runs, en route to the 11-1 win in six innings in the nightcap.
The Bruins took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI double to center field by Cunningham. A solo homer to left field by Garcia made it 2-0 in the top of the second.
BU plated two runs in the top of the third on an RBI single to left field by Fisher and on Cunningham's run-scoring double to left field.
Mission sliced the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the third on Courtney Merrell's RBI single to center field.
Bellevue quickly answered with two runs in the top of the fourth on RBI singles by Laila Fiscus and Fisher, extending the margin to 6-1.
The Bruins exploded for five runs in the top of the sixth, highlighted by a three-run homer to left-center field by Breanne McMurtry, a solo homer to left field by Rodriguez, and an RBI single to left field by Alexa Sidel, making the final 11-1.
Ellie Zoucha (1-0) picked up the win, allowing just one run on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts in six innings of work.