CONWAY, Ark. -- After a 22-hour rain delay, the Bellevue University softball team registered an 8-2 win over Oklahoma Wesleyan University in the Bruins' opening game of the 2013 MCAC Softball Tournament Friday afternoon.
Bellevue (37-9) will face top-seeded Central Baptist College at 5:30 p.m. tonight in a winner's bracket matchup.
A two-run single by Katie Malloy in the bottom of the first and an RBI double by Shelby Kindelin in the second gave the Bruins an early 3-0 advantage.
Kelsie Bridgeford led off the third inning with a solo homer to center field to extend the BU lead to 4-0.
The Eagles got two runs back in the top of the fourth on a two-run double by Leanne Salas, slicing the lead to 4-2. Following that play, the game was suspended due to rain and resumed today at 2 p.m.
After the rain delay, a two-run homer by Amanda Neumann in the fourth and a two-run homer by Augusta Ratliff in the fifth, extended the BU lead to 8-2.
Neumann got the win, improving to 13-3 on the season, scattering three hits with 11 strikeouts and two walks in 5 2/3 innings of work.
Tournament Schedule
Game 1: Central Baptist 5, Waldorf 4
Game 2: Bellevue 8, Oklahoma Wesleyan 2
Game 3: Waldorf vs. Oklahoma Wesleyan (Friday, 3:30 p.m.)
Game 4: Central Baptist vs. Bellevue (Friday, 5:30 p.m.)
Game 5: Loser of game 4 vs. winner of game 3 (Saturday, 11:00 a.m.)
Game 6: Winner of game 4 vs. winner of game 5 (Saturday, 1:00 p.m.)
Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of game 6 vs. loser of game 6 (Saturday, 3:00 p.m.)
