CLERMONT, Fla. -- The Bellevue University softball team defeated Hannibal La-Grange University 8-0 and the University of Saint Francis (Ill.) 6-5 at the National Training Center Spring Games on Sunday.
The Bruins (4-2) continue tournament action on Monday (March 4) with games against Point Park University at 11 a.m. and Grace (Ind.) College at 3 p.m.
Bellevue 8, Hannibal La-Grange 0
Amanda Neumann (1-0) tossed a five-hit complete game with nine strikeouts in Bellevue's first game of the day.
A pair of RBI singles by Kristin Burhenne and Alyssa Matoba gave the Bruins an early 2-0 edge in the top of the second inning.
Bellevue exploded for five runs in the fifth frame, sparked by a two-run single from Taylor Anderson and a ground out RBI by Augusta Ratliff to take a 7-0 lead.
Burhenne added an RBI double in the seventh inning that scored Emily Hester.
Bellevue 6, St. Francis (Ill.) 5
The Bruins recorded 10 hits en route to a 6-5 win in the nightcap.
BU struck first when Matoba scored on a wild pitch in the opening inning.
Kaitlin Nolan's double in the top of the second tied the game at 1-1.
BU regained the lead on a triple by Katie Tew that scored Shelby Kindelin who doubled.
The Saints scored three runs on two hits in the third to take a 4-2 lead.
Neumann hit an RBI double in the third to pull BU within one run, 4-3.
BU scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on RBI hits by Neumann, Kelsie Bridgeford and Katie Malloy.
Ward tallied an RBI single in the seventh, but USF never got any closer as the Bruins posted the 6-5 win.
Taylor Mohler earned the win and improved to 2-1 on the season with 10 strikeouts.
