Bruins drop pair to top 10 teams to open 2015 campaign

Bruins drop pair to top 10 teams to open 2015 campaign

Tournament Website
Auburn-Montgomery Box Score
LSU-Alexandria Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- The Bellevue University softball team dropped a pair of games to top 10-ranked teams to open the 2015 campaign Friday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Bellevue opened the tournament with a 2-0 loss to top-ranked and defending national champion Auburn University-Montgomery, before being shut out by No. 7-ranked LSU-Alexandria, 8-0, in the nightcap. 

The Bruins (0-2) will continue action in the tournament on Saturday with a 12:30 p.m. (EST) contest against Park University. Live stats will be available for that contest.  

Auburn-Montgomery 2, Bellevue 0

All-American Cassie Jones tossed a two-hit shutout with 15 strikeouts as top-ranked Auburn-Montgomery recorded a 2-0 victory in the Bruins' opening game of the tournament. 

With runners on second and third in the top of the third inning, AUM scored on a single to center field by Jade Sasser and added a second run on the same play when Sasser got in a pickle, allowing Katie Spain to score from second. 

That was all the offense the Warhawks needed to back Jones' impressive performance on the mound. 

Taylor Mohler (0-1) took the loss, allowing five hits with eight strikeouts and nine walks in seven innings of work in the circle. 

LSU-Alexandria 8 Bellevue 0 (6 innings)

The Bruins managed just two hits as Kaycee Spears struck out five and walked none in LSUA's 8-0 shutout in six innings. 

A bases-loaded ground out RBI by Kelsey Hollier gave the Generals a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the second frame. 

LSUA added a pair of runs in the third on an RBI triple to right field by Taylor Simon and a ground out RBI by Julinn Torres.

The Generals ended the game in sixth, scoring five runs, highlighted by a three-run triple to center field by Brooke Thomas. Thomas scored on a Bruin fielding error to make the final, 8-0. 

Kelli Fisher (0-1) suffered the loss, scattering eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. 

LSUA improved to 8-1 on the season with the win.