CONWAY, Ark. -- Kim Wees and Kelsie Bridgeford drove in three runs to back the one-hit pitching performance of Amanda Neumann as the Bellevue University softball team shut out top-seeded Central Baptist College Friday night at the 2013 MCAC Softball Tournament.
With the win, Bellevue (38-9) advanced to the championship game of the tournament on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Bruins will play the winner between Oklahoma Wesleyan (35-15) and Central Baptist (35-11). If BU loses, a second championship game will be played at 3 p.m.
The winner of the tournament will receive an automatic berth into the NAIA Softball National Championship.
Earlier in the day, the Bruins defeated Oklahoma Wesleyan, 8-2, in a game that was suspended due to rain on Thursday afternoon.
The BU win snapped Central Baptist's 14-game winning streak and avenged a 3-0 loss to the Mustangs on April 6 at the MCAC Crossover.
A two-run single by Wees gave the Bruins an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning and BU extended the lead to 3-0 in the fifth with a solo homer to left field by Bridgeford.
That was all the offense the Bruins needed as Neumann recorded her fifth shutout of the season, allowing just one hit with five strikeouts and five walks in seven innings of work.
Jessica Sheldon (10-4) suffered the loss, giving up three runs on six hits, while striking out nine batters and walking three in seven innings.
Tournament Schedule
Game 1: Central Baptist 5, Waldorf 4
Game 2: Bellevue 8, Oklahoma Wesleyan 2
Game 3: Oklahoma Wesleyan 7, Waldorf 2
Game 4: Bellevue 3, Central Baptist 0
Game 5: Central Baptist vs. Oklahoma Wesleyan (Saturday, 11 a.m.)
Game 6: Bellevue vs. winner of game 5 (Saturday, 1 p.m.)
Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of game 6 vs. loser of game 6 (Saturday, 3 p.m.)
