Bruins split with league co-leader UJ to open series
JAMESTOWN, N.D. -- The Bellevue University softball team earned a doubleheader split Friday afternoon against league co-leader University of Jamestown. The Bruins used the standout pitching performance of Katie Cunningham in the first game, recording a 2-0 shutout, before falling 7-1 in the nightcap.
The Bruins moved to 24-16 on the season with the split and 9-5 in the NSAA. Jamestown is now 28-13 overall and 12-2 in league play.
The two teams will complete the four-game series with a noon doubleheader on Saturday (April 19) at Trapper Field.
Game 1: Bellevue 2, Jamestown 0
In a pitcher's duel between Hope Ransome and Katie Cunningham, neither team had a baserunner past second base until the top of the sixth inning, when an infield single by Cunningham scored Kaitlyn Fischer from second base, giving BU a 1-0 lead.
Three consecutive Bruin singles, including an RBI shot to center field by Alexa Sidel, increased the BU advantage to 2-0 in the top of the seventh frame.
Cunningham retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to earn the complete-game shutout victory. She improved to 12-6 on the season, allowing just three hits with no walks and eight strikeouts in seven innings.
Ransome (8-6) suffered the loss, scattering six hits with one walk and eight strikeouts in seven innings.
Game 2: Jamestown 7, Bellevue 1
The Jimmies grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI double to center field by Kayla Quintanilla and on an RBI single to left field by Ransome.
Jamestown scored on a Bruin fielding error in the bottom of the third to extend the margin to 3-0.
Back-to-back RBI doubles by Lauren Wiegel and Quintanila made it 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth frame.
A two-run homer by Trinity Gregg expanded the Jimmie edge to 7-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Bellevue got on the board in the top of the seventh, scoring on an RBI double to right-center field by Sidel, making the final, 7-1.
Ellie Zoucha (5-7) was tagged with the loss, scattering 10 hits with no walks and three strikeouts in six innings in the circle.
Abby Blair improved to 9-6 on the season, giving up one run on six hits with two strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.