Bruins fall to Dickinson State in conference finale

Frontier Conference Standings

BELLEVUE, Neb. — The Bruins fell to Dickinson State in their conference finale on Saturday afternoon, as Bellevue University dropped a doubleheader to the league-leading Blue Hawks at the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex. DSU slipped past Bellevue 3-2 in the opener before securing the sweep with a 7-2 victory in the nightcap, claiming the Frontier Conference regular-season championship and extending its winning streak to 20 games.

Bellevue ends the conference regular season with a 10-16 league mark and sits at 20-27 overall. DSU improved to 36-12 overall and 24-4 in league action.

The Bruins' three seniors, Emma Crisman, Miranda Garcia, and Savannah Short, were honored following the twin bill.

Game 1: Dickinson State 3, Bellevue 2

The Blue Hawks scratched across a run in the opening frame after a bloop double by DSU slapper Stocktyn Stevenson went just over the third baseman's head before bouncing left into the fence past the third-base dugout. Two consecutive groundouts then brought Stevenson home to score. The two pitchers traded zeroes through the fifth inning, as Bellevue starter Mariah Unverzagt efficiently limited the damage by inducing 14 groundouts over the course of the game.

The Bruins broke the stalemate in the bottom of the sixth. Laila Fiscus singled, and Unverzagt reached on a fielder's choice. After both runners advanced on a wild pitch, Marguerite Brown drew a walk to load the bases. Breanne McMurtry brought the tying run home on a fielder's choice, and Daniela Ramirez immediately followed with an RBI single to left field, giving Bellevue a 2-1 advantage.

DSU mounted a swift response in the top of the seventh. A leadoff walk and a costly defensive error placed runners on the corners. Stevenson then ripped a two-out, two-run single to center field, plating both runs to reclaim a 3-2 lead. DSU reliever Reannan Butler entered in the bottom half and retired the Bruins in order to secure the save.

Game 2: Dickinson State 7, Bellevue 2

Dickinson State capitalized on a pair of early walks to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, scoring on a sacrifice fly from Kiley Hubby. Bellevue starting pitcher Lindsey Dressman settled in afterward, keeping the Blue Hawks off the board over the next two frames before Ellie Zoucha entered in the fourth.

The game broke open in the pivotal fifth inning. DSU erupted for five runs, drawing five walks in the frame and stringing together three singles. Bellevue utilized two pitchers in the inning as the Blue Hawks extended their lead to 6-0.

The Bruins answered in the bottom of the fifth. Fiscus drew a leadoff walk, and Kaitlyn Fisher reached on a fielding error. Unverzagt then laced a two-run triple down the right-field line to cut the deficit to 6-2.

DSU added an insurance run in the sixth on a bases-loaded walk by Jessa Duggan. Bellevue hit into an inning-ending double play in the bottom half of the frame, but made a final push in the seventh. Short and Fiscus laced back-to-back one-out singles to keep the Bruins' hopes alive, but Butler slammed the door, inducing a pop-up and a swinging strikeout to strand both runners and secure the complete-game victory.

Inside the Numbers

• Game 1 - Bellevue: 2 runs on 4 hits, 1 error, 4 LOB; DSU: 3 runs on 5 hits, 0 errors, 6 LOB
• Game 2 - Bellevue: 2 runs on 5 hits, 0 errors, 6 LOB; DSU: 7 runs on 9 hits, 1 error, 11 LOB
• Mariah Unverzagt threw a complete game in the opener, tossing 97 pitches and allowing just two earned runs.
• The Bruins went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position on the day, while DSU converted 3-for-17 opportunities.
• DSU pitching did not surrender an earned run in the nightcap; both of Bellevue's runs in Game 2 were unearned.

Top Performers

(Totals reflect combined numbers from both games unless otherwise noted)

Bellevue

• Laila Fiscus: 3-for-4, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP
• Mariah Unverzagt: 1-for-7, 1 3B, 1 R, 2 RBI
• Daniela Ramirez: 2-for-6, 1 RBI
• Mariah Unverzagt (Game 1): L (5-8), 7.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
• Lindsey Dressman (Game 2): L (2-3), 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Dickinson State

• Stocktyn Stevenson: 3-for-7, 1 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB
• Octavia Meyer: 2-for-7, 1 R, 1 RBI
• Ava Jahner (Game 1): W (10-2), 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• Reannan Butler: W (5-5), SV (2), 8.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

Up Next

The Bruins return to the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex on Monday, April 27, for a 6 p.m. non-conference contest against cross-town rival College of Saint Mary to conclude the 2026 regular season. Following Monday's matchup, Bellevue will turn its attention to the Frontier Conference Tournament, scheduled for April 30-May 3 in Dickinson, N.D. Times and pairings will be released later this weekend.