Bruins split with Blue Hawks, take series 3-1
The Bellevue University softball team split a North Star Athletic Association doubleheader at Dickinson State University on Monday afternoon at the North Softball Complex. BU took the first game, 6-4, before falling in the nightcap, 3-1. Bellevue won three out of the four games in the series.
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
NSAA Standings
DICKINSON, N.D. -- The Bellevue University softball team split a North Star Athletic Association doubleheader at Dickinson State University on Monday afternoon at the North Softball Complex. BU took the first game, 6-4, before falling in the nightcap, 3-1. Bellevue won three out of the four games in the series.
With the split, the second-place Bruins move to 30-16 on the season and 13-5 in the NSAA. DSU is now 17-20 overall and 7-11 in league play.
Bellevue will host College of St. Mary on Wed., April 17 at 6:00 p.m. in a single seven-inning contest at Roy Smith Field. The Bruins' five seniors (Myah Boehnke, Kayla Lehigh, Erin Sharpe, Maddie Siedlik, and Kayla Young) will all be honored prior to the start of the game.
Game 1: Bellevue 6, Dickinson State 4
The Bruins outhit DSU, 12-9, including six doubles and one home run, en route to the 6-4 win in the opener.
Bellevue took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI double to left by Maddie Siedlik and on a sacrifice fly to center by Erin Sharpe. BU extended the advantage to 5-0 in the top of the third on RBI doubles by Grace Glotfelty and Randi Henry and on a run-scoring single to center by Siedlik.
The Blue Hawks cut the lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly to right field by Andrea Rodriguez.
Caitlyn Welch's RBI double down the right-field line made it 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth frame.
Sharpe launched her team-leading 19th home run of the season, a solo blast to right field, giving the Bruins a 6-2 edge in the top of the sixth.
The Blue Hawks made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh, narrowing the BU lead to 6-4 on Sonja Lawrence's two-run homer to left field.
Brieanna Brock replaced starter Monique Ashley and promptly induced two-straight groundouts to earn her second save of the season.
Ashley (10-7) earned the win, scattering nine hits with two walks and six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings of work.
Game 2: Dickinson State 3, Bellevue 1
After scoring an early run, the BU offense was not able to muster any more scoring as the Blue Hawks took the nightcap, 3-1.
After Ellie Bliemeister led off the game with a triple to right field, Sharpe drove her in with a single to center to give BU an early 1-0 advantage.
The Blue Hawks responded in the bottom of the second, scoring two runs on an RBI single to right field by Welch and on a bases-loaded walk, giving DSU a 2-1 lead.
DSU made it 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth on a bases-loaded fielder's choice RBI by Jaya Allen that scored Andrea Rodriguez from third.
Emily Rochford (1-2) was tagged with the loss, giving up three runs on eight hits with three walks and one strikeout in five innings of work.
Abi Brooks (8-7) earned the victory, scattering seven hits with no walks and four strikeouts in seven complete innings in the circle.