Late-inning rallies doom BU in doubleheader sweep at Bismarck

Frontier Conference Standings

BISMARCK, N.D. — The Bellevue University softball team suffered a pair of 8-7 walk-off defeats on Monday as Bismarck State College swept a Frontier Conference doubleheader at Scheels Field. The consecutive heartbreakers marked three straight walk-off victories for the Mystics, who took the four-game weekend series 3-1.

Bellevue fell to 20-23 overall and 10-12 in Frontier Conference play. Bismarck State improved to 14-28 overall and 9-12 in league action.

Game 1: Bismarck State College 8, Bellevue University 7

BU built a 6-2 lead through four innings behind home runs from Emma Crisman and Leslie Egan, but unearned runs and late-inning execution allowed the Mystics to rally for the walk-off win.

How It Happened

Bismarck State struck first in the opening frame when Leah Rolland plated a run with a base hit.

The Bruins answered in the second when Crisman launched a solo home run to left center to knot the game at 1-1.

BU took a 3-1 lead in the third on Egan's round-tripper to right center, driving in Breanne McMurtry. Brielle Wrangham cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom half with a run-producing double.

The Bruins exploded for three runs in the fourth. McMurtry ripped a run-scoring two-bagger down the right-field line, Kaitlyn Fisher sprinted home on a wild pitch, and McMurtry later raced to the plate on a throw to second base, pushing the Bellevue advantage to 6-2.

The Mystics flipped the momentum in the bottom of the fifth, capitalizing on a two-out fielding error at shortstop to push across three unearned runs and trim the lead to 6-5.

Savannah Gustavsson tripled to lead off the sixth and crossed the plate on a wild pitch to tie the game at 6-6.

Bellevue reclaimed a 7-6 edge in the top of the seventh on a clutch base hit up the middle by Crisman. In the bottom half, however, Grace Grimm sparked the final rally with a leadoff double. Lexi Wesson tied the contest with a base knock through the left side, and Jada Walter immediately followed with a game-winning double to left field to seal the 8-7 victory.

Carly Bertolini took the loss, falling to 9-6, after going 6.1 innings and allowing 10 hits and eight runs, five earned, with three walks and one strikeout. Jamison Langlois earned the win in relief for BSC.

Inside the Numbers

• Bellevue: 7 runs on 11 hits, 3 errors, 9 LOB; Bismarck State: 8 runs on 10 hits, 0 errors, 6 LOB
• Bellevue went 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position
• Three of Bismarck State's eight runs were unearned, all scoring in the fifth inning following a fielding error at shortstop
• Crisman finished 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and two RBIs

Game 2: Bismarck State College 8, Bellevue University 7 (8 innings)

The Bruins erased an early five-run deficit to force extra innings, but Tayler Falcon delivered a game-winning base hit in the bottom of the eighth to secure the doubleheader sweep for the Mystics.

How It Happened

BSC jumped on Bellevue starter Mariah Unverzagt for five runs in the bottom of the first inning, keyed by Jordyn Marcoux and Walter, who each knocked in a pair with base hits.

The Bruins immediately answered with a four-run second inning. Laila Fiscus lined a three-bagger to the right-center gap to score a run, and Marguerite Brown mirrored her with a run-producing triple down the right-field line. Egan drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run, and Macie Wyman drove a ball through the left side to plate another, slicing the deficit to 5-4.

After the Mystics extended their lead to 7-4 in the fourth on a double by Wrangham and a single by Grimm, Bellevue rallied to tie it in the fifth. Fiscus lined a run-scoring single to center, and Brown followed with a hard-hit ball to right that resulted in two unearned runs crossing the plate on an outfield error, knotting the score at 7-7.

Both bullpens held the offenses in check through the sixth and seventh innings, sending the game to extras.

In the bottom of the eighth, Rolland drew a leadoff walk, and Grimm was hit by a pitch. Falcon then delivered the decisive blow with a walk-off single to left field, bringing home pinch-runner Haily Molde from second.

Daniela Ramirez suffered the loss, falling to 1-1, after tossing 3.2 innings of relief, allowing three hits and one earned run while striking out two. Kya Kulzer earned the win to improve to 3-8, pitching all eight innings for BSC and allowing 11 hits and seven runs, five earned.

Inside the Numbers

• Bellevue: 7 runs on 11 hits, 0 errors, 12 LOB; Bismarck State: 8 runs on 13 hits, 2 errors, 8 LOB
• Bellevue went 5-for-13 with runners in scoring position
• The Bruins stranded 12 runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded in the second inning
• Kulzer threw 149 pitches in the complete-game, eight-inning victory for BSC

Top Performers

(Totals reflect combined numbers from both games unless otherwise noted)

Bellevue University

• Mariah Unverzagt — 3-for-4, 3 R, 3 BB
• Laila Fiscus — 3-for-5, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
• Marguerite Brown — 4-for-9, 3B, 1 R, 2 RBI
• Emma Crisman — 3-for-9, HR, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI
• Leslie Egan — 2-for-8, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB
• Breanne McMurtry — 2-for-7, 2 2B, 2 R, 1 RBI
• Macie Wyman — 2-for-3, 1 RBI (Game 2)
• Daniela Ramirez — Loss (1-1), 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (Game 2)
• Carly Bertolini — Loss (9-6), 6.1 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 K (Game 1)

Bismarck State College

• Brielle Wrangham — 5-for-7, 2 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
• Savannah Gustavsson — 3-for-8, 3B, 2B, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB
• Lexi Wesson — 3-for-8, 2 2B, 2 R, 1 RBI
• Jada Walter — 3-for-7, 2B, 3 RBI
• Jordyn Marcoux — 2-for-3, 1 R, 3 RBI
• Tayler Falcon — 1-for-9, 1 R, 2 RBI
• Kya Kulzer — Win (3-8), 8.0 IP, 11 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 5 BB, 6 K (Game 2)

Up Next

The Bruins return home this Friday and Saturday, April 24-25, when they host Dickinson State College in a four-game Frontier Conference series at the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex. Friday's doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m. First pitch on Saturday will be at noon. Bellevue's three seniors, Emma Crisman, Miranda Garcia, and Savannah Short, will all be honored following the conclusion of Saturday's twinbill.