Bruins split games to open conference play

Dickinson State Box Score
Dakota State Box Score

MADISON, S.D. -- The Bellevue University softball team opened North Star Athletic Association play on Monday, splitting a pair of games. The Bruins lost to 17th-ranked Dickinson State, 1-0, in the opener, before rebounding with a 9-1 win in five innings over Dakota State in the nightcap.

Bellevue moved to 9-13 on the season and 1-1 in league play. 

The three teams will all meet again on Tuesday (March 29) with the same schedule as Monday. Bellevue will play Dickinson State at 10 a.m. and Dakota State at 2 p.m.

Dickinson State 1, Bellevue 0

Dickinson State's Alexzandria Watson tossed a two-hit complete-game shutout, while striking out nine and walking none as the 17th-ranked Bluehawks pulled out the 1-0 victory in the opener. 

Neither team scored in the pitcher's duel until the top of the sixth inning when Alex Vargas led off the inning with a triple to deep center field and was driven in by Brianna Grayson's single to right center. It marked the only run in the game. 

Kelli Fisher fell to 6-8 on the season, despite giving up just five hits with six strikeouts and no walks in seven innings in the circle. 

Watson improved to 8-1 on the season with the victory. 

Bellevue 9, Dakota State 1 (5 innings)

The Bruins used two big innings and the solid pitching of Fisher to secure the 9-1 win in the nightcap. The game was decided in five innings.

BU took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second, highlighted by a two-run bases-loaded single by Emily Gigax.

Bellevue exploded for six runs in the top of the third sparked by a three-run double by Courtney Schendt. The Bruins also scored on an RBI single by Katie Franzen and on a pair of bases-loaded walks, extending the lead to 9-0. 

The Trojans got on the board in the bottom of the fourth after a single to right by Elizabeth Rubalcava and a misplayed grounder by BU right fielder Franzen allowed Peton Brokiewicz to score from second, cutting the lead to 9-1. 

Fisher (7-8) earned the win, allowing just two hits with five strikeouts an no walks in four innings of work.