Unverzagt, Bertolini blank Vikings in elimination win

DICKINSON, N.D. — Mariah Unverzagt and Carly Bertolini combined on a four-hit shutout Saturday, helping No. 6 seed Bellevue University blank No. 3 seed Valley City State University 3-0 in a Frontier Conference Tournament elimination game at Bravera Field at the Sanford Sports Complex.

The Bruins improved to 24-28 and won their third straight elimination game, leaving three teams remaining in the eight-team double-elimination tournament. VCSU ended its season at 25-24.

How It Happened

Unverzagt set the tone early, retiring the Vikings in order in the first and second innings and working around a two-out walk in the third. Bellevue had a scoring chance in the first when Marguerite Brown doubled to right field and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but VCSU starter Maddy Hazelton ended the threat with a popup.

The Bruins broke through in the fourth. Brown opened the inning with a double to left field, and Daniela Ramirez walked before Brown moved to third on a wild pitch. Breanne McMurtry followed with an RBI single to left field, scoring Brown for a 1-0 lead. A wild pitch moved Ramirez to third and McMurtry to second, and Miranda Garcia walked to load the bases. Savannah Short then reached on a fielder's choice, bringing in Ramirez and McMurtry to extend the lead to 3-0.

Unverzagt carried a no-hitter through five innings, allowing only one baserunner on a walk. Bertolini entered in the sixth and worked through VCSU's first threat after Hadley Gerle doubled and Pascale Kihn singled to open the inning. Bertolini struck out Avery Kuklinski and Madden Bogenreif before Kennadi Stone reached on a fielder's choice that forced Katelyn MacNeill out at third.

The Vikings put two runners aboard again in the seventh after Kylee Banerd singled and Olivia Kalbus added a two-out single to right field. Bertolini closed the game by getting MacNeill to pop up to Unverzagt in right field, securing her third straight save of the tournament and fourth of the season.

Unverzagt improved to 7-9 after throwing five hitless innings, giving up only one walk and striking out two. Bertolini earned the save after working two scoreless innings with four hits surrendered, no walks, and three strikeouts. Hazelton took the loss for VCSU, falling to 11-13 after yielding three runs, one earned, on six hits with five walks and two strikeouts in six innings.

Inside the Numbers

• Bellevue finished with three runs on six hits, no errors, and seven left on base; VCSU had no runs on four hits, one error, and five left on base.
• The Bruins went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, while the Vikings went 2-for-7.
• Brown recorded both of Bellevue's extra-base hits with two doubles.
• Unverzagt and Bertolini combined for the Bruins' first shutout of the tournament.
• Bellevue has won three straight elimination games since dropping its tournament opener against VCSU on Thursday.

Top Performers

Bellevue University

• Marguerite Brown — 2-for-3, two doubles, one run
• Breanne McMurtry — 1-for-3, one RBI, one run
• Savannah Short — 1-for-2, two RBIs, one walk
• Mariah Unverzagt — 1-for-3; W, 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• Carly Bertolini — SV, 2.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

VCSU

• Hadley Gerle — 1-for-1, double
• Kylee Banerd — 1-for-3
• Pascale Kihn — 1-for-1, one walk
• Maddy Hazelton — L, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 2 K

Up Next

Bellevue will play later today at 4 p.m. in another Frontier Conference Tournament elimination game against the loser of the winner's bracket contest between No. 1 Dickinson State University and No. 2 University of Providence at Bravera Field at the Sanford Sports Complex in Dickinson, N.D.