CONWAY, Ark. -- For the second-straight game, Amanda Neumann shut out Central Baptist College, as the Bellevue University softball team claimed the 2013 MCAC Tournament title with a 4-0 win over the Mustangs Saturday afternoon at City of Colleges Park.
With the win, the Bruins (39-9) advanced to the NAIA National Championship for the third time in the last four years. Pairings and brackets for the Opening Round will be announced on Tuesday, May 7.
Neumann improved to 15-3 on the season, allowing just three hits with six strikeouts and five walks in seven innings of work, as BU outhit Central Baptist, 10-3.
After Shelby Kindelin led off the game with a walk and a stolen base, Kelsie Bridgeford drove her in with an RBI single up the middle, giving the Bruins an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
Four-consecutive singles, including RBI hits by Katie Tew and Augusta Ratliff extended the Bruin lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth frame.
Neumann added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with an RBI single down the left field line that scored Luci Mendoza, moving the BU advantage to 4-0.
After the Mustangs got a baserunner to lead off the bottom of the seventh following a BU fielding error, Neumann retired the final three batters to secure the 4-0 victory.
The NAIA National Championship Opening Round will take place on May 13-15 at 10 different sites across the country. The 10 Opening Round champions will meet up at the NAIA Softball National Championship final site in Columbus, Ga. on May 24-30.
