FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- A four-run hole was too much to dig out of as the 22nd-ranked Bellevue University softball team dropped a 6-5 decision to Midland University in non-conference action on Friday morning at the Evangel Tournament.
Bellevue falls to 0-1 with the loss and 7-13 all-time in season-openers. With the victory, Midland improves to 3-2 on the young season.
The Warriors got on the board early, hanging a four-spot in the bottom of the first. The inning was highlighted by a two-run single from Madie Nelson which was sandwiched between RBI-singles from Bailey Hartman and Justin Karr.
The Bruins came roaring right back in the next half inning, scoring a pair of runs themselves. Alex Tooley led off the inning with a single to right and Michaela Miller followed that up with a two-run homer over the center field fence to cut the Midland lead in half at 4-2.
Bellevue chipped further away at the lead in the fourth when Tooley launched a solo homer over the right field to pull the Bruins within one run at 4-3.
Kelli Fisher seemed to settle down after the opening inning, allowing the BU offense a chance to stage a rally. After each of the first two batters reached in the bottom of the fourth, Fisher bore down and set down the next two in order before a single by Bailey Hoover scored a fifth Midland run to put the Warriors up 5-3.
The Warriors plated an insurance run in the fifth on back-to-back doubles by Nelson and Kortney Wallick to extend their lead to 6-3.
The Bruins responded a half-inning later. Tooley led off with an infield single and advanced to third on a double by Sayde Woten. Midland looked primed to escape unscathed following a lineout but Hartman's throw to second sailed into the outfield allowing Tooley to score. Pinch-hitter Kayla Young came through with a big run-scoring single to right to pull BU within a run at 6-5 headed into the bottom half.
Skyler Peterson (2-2) picked up the win in the circle for Midland after hurling a complete game limiting BU to five runs on nine hits and striking out six. Fisher (0-1) suffered the loss for the Bruins. She worked six innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits while striking out five.
Bellevue will be back in action later today with a 2 p.m. game against #6 Oklahoma City and a 4 p.m. game against #23 Lindenwood-Belleville.
