KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Bellevue University softball team split a pair of games Wednesday at the Spring Games, rallying to defeat the University of Northwestern Ohio, 5-2, before falling to St. Thomas University, 4-2, in the nightcap.
The Bruins are now 11-8 on the season.
Bellevue will continue action in the Spring Games on Thursday (Mar. 11) when they battle Keiser University at 10:15 a.m. and Dordt University at 12:30 p.m. (central time).
Bellevue 5, Northwestern Ohio 2
Pinch hitter Emily Rochford provided the offensive spark and Lauren Jurek picked up her sixth victory of the season as BU earned the 5-2 win in the opener against UNOH.
The Racers took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run homer to left field by Grace Jackson.
After the Bruins loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth inning, Rochford, who was pinch-hitting for Kelsey Arnold, launched a line-drive grand slam homer over the left-field fence to give Bellevue a 4-2 advantage.
BU added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on Maricela Egan's RBI single to right field that scored Alyssa Morbach from second base, making it 5-2.
Jurek retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the three-run victory.
Jurek improved to 6-4 on the season, allowing two runs on seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts in seven innings of work.
Carlie Hanes (1-1) suffered the loss, giving up four runs on four hits with five walks and 12 strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
St. Thomas 4, Bellevue 2
STU grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI single to left field by Kaitlin Spalding and a two-run double to left by Daniela Bautista.
Lauren Russell scored from third on a passed ball and Kelsey Arnold's RBI single to center field cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the second.
A sacrifice fly to left field by Sophia Negron extended the STU lead to 4-2 in the top of the sixth frame.
Erica Winter (2-2) retired the Bruins' final seven batters to earn her second victory of the season. She allowed six hits in the contest, with no walks and three strikeouts in seven innings in the circle.
Savannah Gunn (3-3) was tagged with the loss, scattering nine hits with one walk and three strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work.
