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Bruins drop pair to open season in Sioux Center
February 7, 2026

Bruins drop pair to open season in Sioux Center

Box Score Box Score Box Score

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa -- Bellevue University opened the 2026 season with a pair of losses Saturday at the ASB Sports Complex Softball Classic, falling 10-6 to Mount Mercy University before dropping a 3-2 decision to host Dordt University at the American State Bank Sports Complex. The Bruins are 0-2 after the doubleheader.

Bellevue was led on the day by Leslie Egan, who collected four hits across the two games, including doubles in both contests. Daniela Ramirez provided BU's biggest swing of the day with a two-run home run in the nightcap.

Game 1 — Mount Mercy 10, Bellevue 6

Mount Mercy (1-3) scored in five different innings and took advantage of eight Bellevue errors to secure the opener. Bellevue totaled seven hits and drew four walks.

Marguerite Brown went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Egan finished 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Miranda Garcia was 2-for-4 with a double, and Emma Crisman drove in two runs.

In the circle, Carly Bertolini started before Mariah Unverzagt tossed 3.0 innings of relief. Lindsey Dressman took the loss.

How It Happened

  • 1st: Mount Mercy opened the scoring on Calli Janik's RBI double.

  • 3rd: The Mustangs scored three runs, then Bellevue answered with three in the bottom half, highlighted by Brown's RBI double and a two-run play that made it 4-3.

  • 5th: Mount Mercy added two runs, including an RBI sacrifice fly.

  • 6th: The Mustangs scored twice, and Bellevue responded with two runs in the bottom half as Crisman accounted for a pair of RBIs.

  • 7th: Mount Mercy plated two runs in the top of the inning, then Bellevue got one back when Ramirez singled, and Egan doubled home a run.

Top Performers

Bellevue

Mount Mercy

  • Calli Janik: 3-for-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R

  • Kendra Mescher: 2-for-3, BB, 2 R

  • Maggie McNally: W, 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

Inside the Numbers

  • Mount Mercy: 10 runs, 7 hits, 2 errors; Bellevue: 6 runs, 7 hits, 8 errors.

  • Bellevue was 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position; Mount Mercy was 3-for-21.

  • Mount Mercy left 8 on base; Bellevue left 7.

Game 2 — Dordt 3, Bellevue 2

Dordt improved to 5-0 by scoring three runs in the third inning and holding off a Bellevue rally in the fourth. The teams finished with seven hits apiece and no errors.

Bellevue's offense was sparked by Ramirez, who hit a two-run home run in the fourth to cut the deficit to 3-2. Egan went 2-for-3 with a double and scored a run, and Laila Fiscus doubled.

Ellie Zoucha took the loss after working 2.2 innings. Bertolini fired 3.1 scoreless innings of relief, allowing two hits while striking out five.

How It Happened

  • 3rd (Dordt): Tera Price opened the inning with a bunt single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before Chloe Kreuz tripled in a run. Rylee Yager followed with a bunt single, then Kreuz scored on a stolen base of home and Annabelle Hensley added a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead.

  • 4th (BU): Egan doubled, then Ramirez homered with two outs to pull BU within 3-2.

  • 5th: Bellevue put runners on the corners but came up empty, and Dordt stranded two in the sixth as Bertolini worked out of trouble.

Top Performers

Bellevue

Dordt

  • Chloe Kreuz: 1-for-3, 3B, RBI, R

  • Annabelle Hensley: 2-for-2, 2B, RBI

  • Rylee Yager: W, 7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 12 K

Inside the Numbers

  • Dordt: 3 runs, 7 hits, 0 errors; Bellevue: 2 runs, 7 hits, 0 errors.

  • Bellevue went 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position; Dordt went 2-for-7.

  • Dordt did not draw a walk; Bellevue drew one.

Up Next

Bellevue University returns to Sioux Center, Iowa, next Saturday, Feb. 14, for two more games at the ASB Sports Complex Softball Classic, facing College of Saint Mary at 3 p.m. before closing the day against No. 17 Northwestern (Iowa) at 7 p.m.