Bruins split in day one of Top Gun NAIA Midwest College Classic

SHAWNEE, Kan. -- A 12-hit performance power the Bellevue University softball team to a 10-2 win over Park University in the opener before the Bruins fell 2-1 in a pitcher's duel to Baker University in the nightcap on day one of the Top Gun NAIA Midwest College Classic.

Bellevue now stands at 3-7 overall on the season. Park slides to 7-7 on the year with the loss in the opener while Baker ups their record to 4-6.

Bellevue 10, Park 2 (5 innings)

Breanne McMurtry broke a 2-2 tie with a leadoff home run to kick-start a seven-run fourth inning.

Leslie Egan got the Bruins on the board in the top of the first with a sac fly. A collision at third with Marguerite Brown sliding in saw the ball skip away to allow a second run to score on the play.

Park scratched across a pair in the second on an error and a sac fly from G Ramsey to tie the game at 2-all.

Four Bruins posted multi-hit games with Kaitlyn Fisher (double, RBI, 2 runs), Breanne McMurtry (home run, 2 RBI, run), and Laila Fiscus (2 runs) all going 2-3 and Brown finishing the game 2-4 with a pair of RBI and runs scored.

With BU leading 9-2 and runners on first and second, Brown delivered the game winning hit to center to score Fiscus and invoke the eight-run rule.

Carly Bertolini (1-3) went the distance in the circle for the Bruins, strikeout out four and walking two without give up an earned run. She allowed two runs on five hits in picking up her first collegiate victory.

She settled in after a rocky first two innings, allowing just one hit the rest of the way and retiring the final nine batters she faced.

Rori Hornung (2-2) took the loss for the Pirates, surrendering eight runs (six earned) on seven hits and walking three in just 3.2 innings of work.

(RV) Baker 2, Bellevue 1

Mariah Unverzagt (1-2) fired a complete game one-hitter but a pair of unearned runs in the fourth was enough for Baker.

BU struck first in the top of the third. Savannah Short and Emma Crisman opened the frame with base hits and Laila Fiscus drew a walk to bring the top of the lineup to bat. Marguerite Brown reached via a one-out error to bring home Short with the game's first run.

Unverzagt shut down the Wildcats in order in the bottom half but consecutive errors to open the fourth set Baker up with a runner in scoring position. Gracie Gallagher scored on an error during a stolen base attempt and Yarah Zuiver came home on a ground ball later in the frame as Baker took a 2-1 lead.

Bellevue had a runner thrown out at the plate to end the fifth and at third to end the game.

Crisman drew a walk leading off the fifth and Brown ripped a two-out double to the fence in right center that looked to score Crisman. The throw to the plate beat her and a high tag appeared to allow Crisman's foot to get to the plate but she was called out ending the frame.

Crisman drew another walk in the seventh, this time with one out. Two batters later Kaitlyn Fisher singled through the right side and Crisman, looking to capitalize on the ball being hit behind her headed for third and was again called out on a bang-bang play.

The Bruins out-hit Baker 4-1 on the night and had several more balls barreled up but hit right at Wildcat outfielders.

Sydney Kill's leadoff double in the fifth was the lone batted ball from Baker to reach the outfield, safely or otherwise.

Jordyn Beck (2-1) matched Unverzagt in the circle, allowing just one unearned run on four hits while striking out four Bruins. Unverzagt struck out a pair and issued one walk.

Up Next:

BU is back in action tomorrow with a pair of games beginning at 2:40 p.m. against Briar Cliff University. Game two is slated for a 5 p.m. first pitch against the College of Saint Mary.