BU splits with Blue Hawks to open league play

OMAHA, Neb. -- After dropping the opener to Dickinson State University, 6-4, the Bellevue University softball team rebounded with a convincing 9-0 victory in five innings in the nightcap to earn a split to open North Star Athletic Association action Thursday afternoon at Roy Smith Field. 

The Bruins moved to 12-12 on the season and 1-1 in the NSAA with the split. DSU is now 15-9 overall and 1-1 in league play. 

The two teams will complete the four-game series with a noon doubleheader tomorrow afternoon at Roy Smith Field.  

Game 1: Dickinson State 6, Bellevue 4

Dickinson State outhit the Bruins, 13-8, and took advantage of two Bruin fielding errors en route to the 6-4 win in the opener.  

After DSU starter Alison Eldridge gave up a pair of walks, Laila Fiscus drove in the game's first run with an RBI single to center field, giving BU a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second frame. 

The Blue Hawks responded in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly to center field by Jersi Morse, that scored Allyson Farrington from third, tying the contest at 1-1. 

DSU took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of a Bruin fielding error and an RBI infield single by Morse.

The Blue Hawks extended the margin to 5-1 in the top of the fifth with an RBI double to center field by Kiley Hubby and an infield RBI single by Kara Conway. 

The Bruins got a run back in the bottom of the fifth when Miranda Garcia's groundout to first score Mariah Unverzagt from third, making it 5-2. 

DSU gained a 6-2 lead in the top of the sixth when Brooke Lijewski's groundout scored Morse from third. 

An RBI single to center field by Katie Cunningham and a sacrifice fly to center field by Breanne McMurtry slice the DSU advantage to 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth. 

Reannan Butler earned the save, striking out two in the bottom of the seventh. 

Cunningham (7-5) was tagged with the loss, surrendering five runs on 10 hits with one walk and three strikeouts in five innings in the circle. 

Eldridge (6-5) was credited with the win, scattering seven hits with six walks and five strikeouts in five innings of work.  

Game 2: Bellevue 9, Dickinson State 0 (5 innings)

The Bruins used a six-run first inning and rode the stellar pitching effort of Ellie Zoucha in the nightcap as BU earned the 9-0 shutout in five innings. 

Three-consecutive bases-load hit batsmen, a two-run single up the middle by Savannah Short, and an RBI double to left field by Kaitlyn Fisher gave BU an early 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first. 

An RBI single to center field by Fisher extended the margin to 7-0 in the bottom of the third inning. 

A two-run double to center field by Short made it 9-0 in the bottom of the fourth frame. 

Zoucha improved to 3-5 on the season, allowing just four hits with no walks and five strikeouts in the shutout victory. 

Fisher went 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs to pace the BU offense. Short drove in four runs, going 2-for-3 with a double.