CLERMONT, Fla. - The Bellevue University softball team wrapped up their trip to Florida with a win and a tie on day four of the NTC Spring Games. The Bruins dispatched the University of Michigan-Dearborn, 8-7 in nine innings, in the opener before settling for a 0-0 tie with St. Xavier University in the nightcap.
Bellevue is now 6-7-1 on the season and has 6-3-1 after a disappointing 0-4 start to the season.
Game One: Bellevue 8, UM-Dearborn 7 (9 Inn.)
Bellevue struck early and Michigan-Dearborn rallied late before the Bruins pulled out an extra inning thriller in support of junior starter Kelli Fisher. Bellevue claimed the victory, an 8-7 affair in nine innings over Michigan-Dearborn. Fisher worked 7.2 innings, yielding seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits while striking out six. Senior Taylor Mohler (3-4) worked the final 1.1 innings, striking out all four batters she faced to pick up the victory.
Shelby Kindelin (3-4, 2 RBI, run, BB) smacked a bases loaded, two-out single to center to score Kaitlyn Goney (0-0, run) with the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Goney, pinch-running as part of the International Tie Breaker rule, advanced to third on a sac bunt by Courtney Schendt (0-2, BB). Emily Gigax (0-2, run, 3 BB) and Michaela Miller (1-3, 2 BB) were both walked to load the bases before a strikeout saw Bellevue an out away from the 10th inning. From there Kindelin delivered her base knock to center to end the game and give the Bruins the win.
Kindelin led off the first inning with a single to right and advanced to second when Sydney Robertson (0-1, run) was hit by a pitch. Robertson would come in to score on a one-out RBI-ground out by Alex Tooley (0-5, RBI). One batter later Sayde Woten (2-4, RBI, BB) singled to center field to chase home Ashley Gigax (1-2, HR, RBI, 2 run, 3 BB) who reached via walk earlier in the inning.
The Bruins added a run in the bottom of the second with a bases-loaded walk by Ashley Gigax to bring home Kendall Hendrix (1-4, run). Michigan-Dearborn got on the board the next half inning when Valerie Bertani singled to center to score Taylor Moceri and cut the Bellevue lead to 3-1.
Bellevue took a 6-3 lead into the seventh before Michigan-Dearborn rallied for three runs behind a two-run home run by Makenzie Trowbridge and a solo dinger from Alexis Powell to force extras.
Each side scored a two-out run in the eighth before Bellevue emerged victorious in the bottom of the ninth.
Game Two: Bellevue 0, St. Xavier 0 (6 Inn., Curfew)
Bellevue couldn't break through despite numerous chances early and the Bruins had to settle for a 0-0 tie with St. Xavier after a light curfew went into effect. Senior starter Taylor Mohler fired a 3-hitter and struck out nine on the evening.
Bellevue recorded seven hits over the first four innings but they were unable to bring anyone home despite stranding runners in scoring position in each inning.
Katie Sears led off the bottom of the fourth for St. Xavier but Mohler struck out the side to escape any damage and keep the game scoreless into the fifth. An inning later St. Xavier put runners on first and second after Kasey Kanaga drew a two-out walk but once again Mohler worked her way out of danger by striking out Rebeka Ferguson.
The Bruins saw their best chance in the top of the sixth after Courtney Schendt (2-3) reached on an error and Emily Gigax (2-3, 2B) singled to left to advance Schendt to put runners on first and second with no outs. However, Callie Brown got Kristine Kimberley (0-3) to ground into a fielder's choice before striking out Kendall Hendrix (1-3) and getting Shelby Kindelin (1-4) to line out to end the inning.
Bellevue is scheduled to play Nebraska Wesleyan in their home-opener on Tuesday, Mar. 10 at Hall of Fame Fields. The double-header is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m.
