Egan’s walk-off lifts Bruins past Aquinas, 7-6

MELBOURNE, Fla. — Leslie Egan delivered a two-run, walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh inning as Bellevue University rallied past Aquinas College for a 7-6 win Tuesday at the Space Coast Spring Games.

After Aquinas plated four runs in the top of the seventh to turn a 5-2 deficit into a 6-5 lead, the Bruins loaded the bases and ended it when Egan's double to center scored Macie Wyman and Mariah Unverzagt.

The Bruins are now 7-10 on the season. Aquinas fell to 11-4.

Bellevue got multi-hit days from Marguerite Brown (3-for-4, double), Wyman (2-for-4, RBI) and Breanne McMurtry, who doubled twice and drove in three runs. Egan reached base four times, drawing three walks and supplying the game-winner.

In the circle, Ellie Zoucha (2-4) earned the win after striking out eight over five innings. Carly Bertolini worked the final two innings in relief and allowed one unearned run. Emma Austin took the loss for Aquinas.

How It Happened

Bellevue opened the scoring in the bottom of the second when McMurtry doubled home Unverzagt for a 1-0 lead, and Short followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home McMurtry and make it 2-0. Aquinas got on the board in the fourth as Carlson tripled and scored on Nieswender's RBI single to trim the margin to 2-1.

The Bruins created separation in the fifth. Wyman singled to left to score Brown for a 3-1 advantage, and McMurtry followed with a two-run double to bring home Wyman and Unverzagt and push the lead to 5-1. Aquinas picked up an unearned run in the sixth on Buikema's RBI single to cut it to 5-2.

The Saints surged in the seventh, stringing together four runs to take a 6-5 lead. Nieswender's RBI single made it 5-3, Cuthbert's two-run single tied it 5-5, and Asai's RBI single put Aquinas in front 6-5. Bellevue answered in the bottom half as Unverzagt singled and Wyman singled before McMurtry walked to load the bases, setting up Egan's walk-off double to center that scored Wyman and Unverzagt for the 7-6 final.

Top Performers

Bellevue University
Marguerite Brown: 3-for-4, 2B
Breanne McMurtry: 2-for-2, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB
Macie Wyman: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 R
Leslie Egan: 1-for-1, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 BB
Ellie Zoucha: 5.0 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 10 K

Aquinas College
Katie Carlson: 2-for-4, 3B, 2 R
Abby Nieswender: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
Karigann Cuthbert: 1-for-4, 2 RBI
Bella Asai: 1-for-3, RBI

Inside the Numbers

Bellevue: 7 runs on 9 hits, 2 errors, 7 LOB; Aquinas: 6 runs on 10 hits, 0 errors, 9 LOB.
Bellevue finished 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position; Aquinas went 6-for-17.
The Bruins worked seven walks and struck out eight times, while Aquinas walked three times and fanned 10.

Up Next

The Bruins will resume action at the Space Coast Spring Games on Thursday, March 12, when they battle No. 12-ranked St. Thomas (Fla.) University at 9 a.m. CT.