Bellevue dominates Comets, 12-0, 13-1
OMAHA, Neb. -- The Bellevue University softball team launched six home runs on the day and rode the dominating pitching performances of Ellie Zoucha, Katie Cunningham, and Abby Dworak en route to a pair of run-rule wins over Mayville State University in North Star Athletic Association action Saturday afternoon at Roy Smith Field. BU took the opener 12-0 and the nightcap 13-1. Both games ended in five innings.
Bellevue improved to 20-15 on the season and 6-4 in the NSAA. MSU dropped to 6-29 overall and 0-10 in league play.
The two teams will complete the four-game series on Sunday (April 13) with a noon doubleheader at Roy Smith Field.
Game 1: Bellevue 12, Mayville State 0 (5 innings)
The Bruins launched a season-high four home runs and outhit the Comets, 10-4, en route to the 12-0 run-rule victory in the opener.
Miranda Garcia went 2-for-2 with two home runs and five RBIs to lead the BU offense. Kaitlyn Fisher drove in three runs while blasting her second home run of the season.
Similar to the Bruins' last contest against College of Saint Mary, Fisher led off the game with a solo homer to left-center field. Two batters later, Katie Cunningham made it 2-0 with a solo shot over the left-field fence. A bases-loaded hit by batsmen and a bases-loaded walk, along with a two-run single to left field by Fisher, gave BU a 6-0 first-inning lead as the Bruins batted through the lineup.
A two-run home run to center field by Miranda Garcia sparked a three-run second inning as Bellevue increased the advantage to 9-0.
The Bruins extended the margin to 12-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI double to center field by Breanne McMurtry and a two-run homer to left-center field by Garcia.
Cunningham (10-6) earned her 10th win of the season, allowing just two hits while striking out six in three innings of work.
Lacey Mathiowetz (1-10) suffered the loss, surrendering 12 runs on 10 hits with three walks and four strikeouts in three innings.
Game 2: Bellevue 13, Mayville State 1 (5 innings)
Zoucha struck out six of the first seven Comets to set the tone in the nightcap.
For the third straight game, Fisher led off the game with a solo homer to left field. The Bruins also scored in the first on a passed ball and a two-run double to right field by Savannah Short, making it 4-0.
An RBI single to left field by Cunningham made it 5-0 in the bottom of the second frame.
A grand slam to center field by Breanne McMurtry and a pair of two-run doubles by Alexa Sidel and Fisher sparked an eight-run third inning as BU extended the margin to 13-0.
The Comets scored their only run of the day in the top of the fourth inning on a solo homer to right field by Mackenzie Hughes, making it 13-1.
Zoucha improved to 5-6 on the season, allowing just three hits with no walks and a career-high 10 strikeouts.