NSAA Standings
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
MITCHELL, S.D. -- The Bellevue University softball team continued its hot streak Saturday, sweeping Dakota State University in a North Star Athletic Association doubleheader at Thue Softball Complex.
The Bruins, who have now won 12-straight games and 23 of their last 24, improved to 31-8 on the season and 10-2 in the NSAA. DSU fell to 11-22 overall and 4-12 in league play.
The two teams will conclude the four-game series with a noon doubleheader on Sunday (April 9).
Game 1: Bellevue 2, Dakota State 0
Despite being out-hit 8-5, the Bruins used solid defense and timely hitting to secure the 2-0 victory in the opener.
A sacrifice fly to center field by Erin Sharpe in the top of the first and a solo homer by Alex Tooley in the second was all the scoring the Bruins needed as Sharpe did not allow a run in seven complete innings in the circle.
Tooley went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored to lead BU at the plate.
Sharpe improved to 6-0 on the season, scattering eight hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Kelly Drake (5-11) suffered the loss, allowing five hits with one walk and three strikeouts in seven innings of work.
Game 2: Bellevue 10, Dakota State 2 (6 innings)
The Bruins out-hit DSU, 14-6, and Kelli Fisher tied the school record with her 77th career win as BU cruised to the 10-2 win in six innings in the nightcap
The Bruins got out of the gate quickly, batting through the lineup in the first inning, scoring five two-out runs highlighted by a two-run single by Kaitlyn Kinman, RBI singles by Emily Gigax and Tooley, and an RBI double from Sayde Woten.
The Trojans scored their first run of the day on a solo homer by Tatum Ronke in the bottom of the second frame, to reduce the lead to 5-1.
Bellevue quickly responded in the top of the third with solo homers by Sharpe and Tooley to extend the BU lead to 7-1.
A three-run triple to deep left field by Sharpe pushed the Bruin advantage to 10-1 in the top of the sixth inning.
A ground-out RBI by Ronke drove in Nicole Stewart to narrow the final BU margin to 10-2 in the bottom of the sixth.
Fisher improved to 18-3 on the season, allowing two earned runs on six hits, with one walk and eight strikeouts in six innings of work. It marked Fisher's 77th victory of her BU career, tying her with Kari Witherspoon, who played from 1997-2000.
