LEAVENWORTH, Kan. -- In a game that saw a pair of lightning delays it was the Bellevue University softball team that endured, defeating the University of Saint Mary, 2-1, in non-conference action on Tuesday afternoon.
Kelli Fisher continued her outstanding work in the circle, running her streak of innings without allowing an earned run to 37.1 innings.
Bellevue improves to 8-10 with the victory while the loss drops USM to 9-16.
Neither team had many chances to score during the regularly scheduled seven innings. Bellevue's best opportunity came in the second after a pair of walks and a stolen base put runners on first and third with one out but Carrie Lee induced consecutive outs to end the threat. The Spires' best chance came in the second as well after a leadoff single and a sac bunt put a runner in scoring position with one out but Fisher worked her way out of the inning.
The Bruins broke through in the ninth inning with aid from the International Tiebreaker Rule. Erin Sharpe was placed on second base, took second on a passed ball, and scored on Kayla Young's single to center field. The Bruins added a second run when pinch-hitter Maddie Siedlik was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
USM responded in the bottom half of the ninth scoring a run on a bases loaded single by Samantha Torres. Fisher settled down and struck out Shirley May and forced Tycee Coplan to ground out to short end the game.
Sarah Zeleny, Emily Miller, and Young had hits for BU in the victory. Fisher picked up the victory to even her record at 6-6 on the year. In not allowing an earned run, she lowered her ERA to 1.37. Fisher stranded 11 base-runners along the way.
As a result of the weather delays, game two of today's double-header has been canceled.
Bellevue next plays on Wednesday, Mar. 23 when they travel to Doane College for a 3 p.m. double-header.
