OMAHA, Neb. -- A walk-off RBI single by Liana McMurty in the nightcap helped the Bellevue University softball team clinch the North Star Athletic Association regular-season title for the third-straight year, as BU split with visiting Dakota State University, losing the opener, 1-0, before capturing the second contest, 2-1.
The Bruins moved to 30-18 on the season with the split and 19-3 in the NSAA. DSU is now 11-28 overall and 8-14 in league play.
The two teams will complete the four-game series with a noon doubleheader on Sunday at Roy Smith Field.
Game 1: Dakota State 1, Bellevue 0
In a pitcher's duel between the Bruins' Katie Cunningham and DSU's Maycee Bricker, neither team scored until a two-out RBI single to right field by pinch-hitter Mason Usselman gave the Trojans a 1-0 advantage in the top of the seventh inning.
Bricker retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the 1-0 victory for DSU.
Bricker improved to 3-10 on the season, scattering five hits with one walk and three strikeouts in seven innings of work.
Cunningham fell to 16-8, giving up one run on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts in seven innings.
Liana McMurtry went 2-for-3 with a double to lead the BU offense in the loss.
Game 2: Bellevue 2, Dakota State 1
L. McMurtry was the hero in the nightcap, driving in both runs, including the game-winner in the bottom of the seventh as BU earned the conference regular-season title with the 2-1 victory.
DSU took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI single up the middle by Rosie Philop that scored Hannah McFarland from second.
The Bruins scored their run of the day in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single up the middle by L. McMurtry, tying the game at 1-1.
L. McMurtry's run-scoring laser to right field drove in Alexa Sidel from second, giving BU the dramatic 2-1 walk-off victory in the bottom of the seventh.
Savannah Gunn improved to 12-5 on the season, allowing just two hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts in seven innings in the circle.
Delaney Barrett (7-11) was tagged with the loss, giving up two runs on six hits with five walks and a pair of strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.
