SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- After dropping the season opener to the University of Houston-Victoria, 8-2, the Bellevue University softball team rebounded with a 6-5 victory over Our Lady of the Lake University to open the 2021 campaign with a split at the OLLU Nationwide Classic.
Cory Carillo picked up the win in the nightcap and the Bruins got home runs from Maricela Egan and Katlyn Kinman.
The Bruins will play the same two teams tomorrow (Feb. 6). BU will battle UHV at 9 a.m. and OLLU at 1:30 p.m.
Houston-Victoria 8, Bellevue 2
Houston-Victoria used the solid pitching effort of Cameron Cowan and outhit the Bruins, 10-2, en route to the 8-2 victory over BU in the opener. Cowan, who had a no-hitter going through 6 2/3 innings, earned the win, allowing two hits with six strikeouts in seven complete innings of work.
Kaylie Lopez led the UHV offense, going 2-for-4 with four RBIs.
The Jaguars grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the third on RBI singles by Zoe Miranda and a two-run single to center by Lopez.
UHV expanded the margin to 6-0 in the top of the fourth, highlighted by a two-run single to right field by Lopez.
A two-run double to left field by pinch hitter Cameron Steen made it 8-0 in the top of the seventh inning.
Ashley Young spoiled Cowan's no-hitter with a two-out double to left field in the bottom of the seventh. Maricela Egan launched a two-run homer to deep right-center field on the next pitch to spoil the shutout, as BU cut the deficit to 8-2.
Cowan struck out Lauren Russell to end the game and the BU threat.
Lauren Jurek (0-1) was tagged with the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits with two strikeouts in four innings in the circle.
Bellevue 6, Our Lady of the Lake 5
The Bruins raced out to a 3-0 lead before the Saints rebounded with three runs in the top of the fifth. The dramatic seventh frame saw the Bruins score three more runs in the top half, countered by the Saints threatening with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the seventh before BU escaped with the one-run victory.
A pair of RBI doubles by Katlyn Kinman and Allison O'Driscoll in the top of the third gave the Bruins a 2-0 advantage.
A fielding error by Saint third baseman Julissa Moreno allowed Ellie Bliemeister to score BU's third run in the top of the fourth.
The Saints tied the score in the bottom of the fifth frame, scoring on a bases-loaded fielding error by BU catcher Allison O'Driscoll, a sacrifice fly to left field by Enell Garza, and on a fielding error by second baseman Kinman.
Felicity Villanueva got out of a bases-loaded no-out jam in the top of the sixth, striking out two Bruins and forcing a ground out to keep the game tied a 3-3.
A two-out three-run homer to left-center field by Kinman gave the Bruins a 6-3 lead in the top of the seventh inning.
After a two-run double to left field by Madison Nunn and an intentional walk to Joanna Gonzalez, Cory Carillo forced a ground out to end the contest and preserve the 6-5 victory.
Kinman went 2-for-4 in the victory with four RBIs and two runs scored.
Carillo (1-0) earned the win, allowing seven hits with one walk in seven innings of work.
