McMurtry homers twice as Bruins split with Dakota State
MADISON, S.D. — Bellevue University split a Frontier Conference softball doubleheader with Dakota State University on Monday at Thue Field, claiming the opener 6-3 on Breanne McMurtry's three-run home run in the seventh inning before falling 5-4 in the nightcap as a pair of bases-loaded walks on 12 consecutive balls from the Bruin bullpen proved to be the difference in the sixth.
The Bruins stand at 16-15 overall and 6-4 in Frontier Conference play following the split. The Trojans are 8-20 overall and 2-8 in league action.
Game 1: Bellevue University 6, Dakota State 3
Bellevue overcame a 3-3 tie entering the seventh inning, with McMurtry delivering the decisive blow to give the Bruins the series opener.
How It Happened
Bellevue scored in each of the first two innings to build a 2-0 lead. Miranda Garcia's run-scoring single in the first plated Leslie Egan, and Mariah Unverzagt's single through the right side scored Macie Wyman in the second.
Dakota State answered with single runs in the second and third to tie the game at 2-2. Gabrielle Ortega-Alves drove home the first DSU run in the second with a single to left, and Emmalynn Rabe's triple to right center set up a run-scoring groundout by Julia Maldonado in the third.
Marguerite Brown's two-out RBI double in the fourth put the Bruins back on top 3-2, but the Trojans responded again in the fifth when Alexia Hayden's single through the left side scored Hannah McFarland to even the game at 3-3.
The Bruins broke through decisively in the seventh. Brown doubled to right center and Egan singled to put two runners in scoring position. McMurtry then launched a three-run home run to left field off reliever Makenna McGee, clearing the bases and pushing BU ahead 6-3. Carly Bertolini retired the Trojans in order in the bottom of the frame to complete the win.
Unverzagt started and pitched three innings, allowing five hits and two runs. Lindsey Dressman worked the next two frames, giving up three hits and one run. Bertolini earned the win, improving to 6-5, with two hitless, scoreless innings to close; she issued no walks and struck out one over 2.0 innings.
Grace Kitterman took the loss, falling to 3-8, after allowing five runs on nine hits in six innings. McGee worked the seventh, giving up two hits and one run.
Inside the Numbers
- Bellevue: 6 runs on 11 hits, 0 errors, 8 left on base; Dakota State: 3 runs on 8 hits, 0 errors, 6 left on base
- Bellevue went 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position
- Brown and Garcia each drove in a run with two outs
- Eight of nine Bellevue starters who came to the plate recorded at least one hit
- Bertolini retired all six batters she faced in the final two innings without allowing a baserunner
Game 2: Dakota State 5, Bellevue 4
Dakota State overcame a 2-0 deficit with three runs in the third inning and added two more on consecutive bases-loaded walks in the sixth. Maycee Bricker completed all seven innings for the Trojans despite allowing 15 hits.
How It Happened
Bellevue stranded two runners in scoring position in each of the first two innings before breaking through in the third. Brown opened the frame with a solo home run to right center, her fourth of the season, and McMurtry followed with a solo shot to left field to put BU ahead 2-0.
Dakota State responded with three runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead. McFarland's double, Rabe's triple and Hayden's single produced three consecutive run-scoring hits to put the Trojans ahead 3-2.
Bellevue tied the game in the sixth when Brown delivered a two-out, run-scoring single to left center to plate Laila Fiscus and even the score at 3-3.
The decisive sequence came in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Dressman walked Ortega-Alves on four straight pitches to force home a run and give DSU a 4-3 lead. Bertolini entered in relief and walked McFarland on four consecutive pitches to score another -- 12 consecutive balls accounting for both runs.
Bellevue cut the deficit to 5-4 in the seventh when McMurtry doubled, moved to third on a flyout and scored on Short's run-scoring single. Bricker retired the final two batters to complete the win.
Ellie Zoucha opened and worked two and one-third innings, giving up five hits and three runs. Abby Dworak pitched two and two-thirds frames and was saddled with the loss, dropping to 0-1 on the season. Dressman and Bertolini each worked in relief in the sixth, with the two runs coming on four consecutive walks.
Bricker went the distance for DSU, scattering 15 hits and four runs over seven innings without issuing a walk to earn the win and improve to 4-6.
Inside the Numbers
- Bellevue: 4 runs on 15 hits, 0 errors, 10 left on base; Dakota State: 5 runs on 8 hits, 1 error, 7 left on base
- Bellevue went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position
- The Bruins stranded runners in six of seven innings while collecting 15 hits
- Bricker faced 35 batters and walked none in a complete-game effort despite allowing 15 hits
Top Performers
(Totals reflect combined numbers from both games unless otherwise noted)
Bellevue University
- Breanne McMurtry — 3-for-7, 2 HR, 1 2B, 3 R, 4 RBIs, 1 BB
- Marguerite Brown — 6-for-8, HR, 2 2B, 2 R, 3 RBIs
- Emma Crisman — 2-for-4, 2 2B (Game 1)
- Laila Fiscus — 3-for-3, 1 R (Game 2)
- Carly Bertolini — Win (6-5), 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (Game 1)
Dakota State University
- Emmalynn Rabe — 3-for-7, 2 3B, 2 R, 1 RBI
- Hannah McFarland — 2-for-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBIs, 3 BB
- Maycee Bricker — Win (4-6), 7.0 IP, 15 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (Game 2)
Notes
- Brown's 21st double of the season tied her for third in Bellevue University history for doubles in a single season. The school record of 22 was set by Amanda Neumann in 2013.
- McMurtry's home run in Game 2 was the 23rd of her career, moving her into 10th in school history. She has six home runs on the season.
Up Next
The Bruins return home on Thursday, April 2, when they host Carroll College in a 2 p.m. Frontier Conference doubleheader at the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex.