Pirates nip Bellevue, 7-6 , in title game
BELLEVUE, Neb. – Park University claimed the 2009 Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Tournament title with a 7-6 victory over Bellevue University in the championship game Friday afternoon at Sigler Field.
Both teams collected 13 hits in the contest as Bellevue used three pitchers and Park two.
Jen Cordell’s RBI double in the top of the sixth inning broke a 6-all tie to give the Pirates the win.
Bellevue was led by senior Jordann Ellis, who was 2-for-3 at the plate with four RBIs including a grand slam home run.
A double by Abby Welker to lead off the game and singles by Ashley Scates and Emily Calder produced the first run of the game to give the Pirates an early 1-0 advantage in the first.
The Bruins threatened in the bottom half of the first, loading the bases, but Pirate starter Jamie Garman forced a flyout to right from Nikki Sedlak to end the threat.
Kristen Hansen’s three-run double extended Park’s lead to 4-0 in the second frame. Jami Garman’s single to deep center drove in Hansen to make it 5-0. The Pirates had five hits and two walks in the second inning.
Bellevue responded in the bottom half of the second, scoring five runs on five hits including the grand slam by Ellis.
Park recaptured the lead with a run in the third after a fielding error by first baseman Kate Lefler allowed Lisa Leuttinger to score from third.
The Bruins tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single down the left field line by Lefler.
Consecutive doubles by Alicia Wedel and Jen Cordell allowed the Pirates to regain the lead, 7-6, in the sixth frame.
The Bruins end the season with a 29-13 overall record. Bellevue won the regular season conference title with a perfect 12-0 record.
