Madonna Box Score
Columbia Box Score
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. -- The Bellevue University softball team split a pair of games Sunday in the final day of the NFCA NAIA Leadoff Classic, posting a 3-2 victory over Madonna University, before being shut out, 1-0, to No. 21-ranked Columbia College in the Bruins' final game of the day.
Bellevue continues its seven-day road swing through Florida when it participates in the National Training Center Spring Games, March 6-9 in Clermont, Fla.
Bellevue 3, Madonna 2
After Madonna got on the board first with an RBI single from Jackie Barley in the top of the third, the Bruins quickly responded, scoring three runs in the bottom of the third, highlighted by a solo homer by Kathryn Wardian, her first of the season. Kim Wees and Amanda Neumann also had RBI singles in the inning.
Bellevue avoided a scare in the top of the sixth as the Crusaders managed just one run after loading the bases with no outs. Neumann, the Bruins' starting pitcher, threw out the potential tying run at home plate to end the inning.
Neumann (2-1) picked up the win for the Bruins, after retiring the side in the top of the seventh to secure her second victory of the season. She allowed six hits, two walks, and no earned runs while striking out five batters.
Madonna...001 001 0 - 2 6 0
Bellevue....003 000 x - 3 6 2
W: Neumann (2-1)
L: Minch (0-3)
HR: BU, Wardian
Columbia 1, Bellevue 0
Despite outhitting Columbia 4-3, the Bruins were shut out in BU's second game of the day, 1-0. The Cougars scored the game's only run in the top of the fifth inning off a Bruin fielding error. Cougar pitcher Taylor Richter did not allow the Bruins to get past second base in the contest.
Taylor Mohler (0-2) suffered the loss, scattering three hits with two strikeouts and a walk in five innings of work.
Neither team allowed an extra-base hit in the game, but both teams registered three fielding errors.
Columbia...000 010 0 - 1 3 3
Bellevue.....000 000 0 - 0 4 3
W: Richter (2-1)
L: Mohler (0-2)
