Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
NSAA Standings
ABERDEEN, S.D. -- The Bellevue University softball team opened its four-game conference series at Presentation College in dominating fashion, sweeping the Saints, 10-1 and 17-4. Both games ended in five innings.
The Bruins pounded out 26 hits on the day, including 12 extra-base hits and four home runs.
With the sweep, the Bruins improved to 29-18 on the season and 15-7 in the NSAA. Presentation dropped to 7-26 overall and 6-15 in league play.
The two teams will complete the four-game series with a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday (April 24) in Aberdeen.
Game 1: Bellevue 10, Presentation 1 (5 innings)
Lauren Jurek drove in three runs at the plate and did not allow an earned run in the circle to lead Bellevue to the 10-1 victory in five innings in the opener. BU outhit the Saints, 11-3, in the win.
The Bruins plated six runs in the second inning, sparked by RBI singles from Ellie Bliemeister and Ashley Young, and a three-run double by Jurek.
Bellevue made it 7-0 in the top of the third on Emily Rochford's solo homer to left-center field.
An RBI double to center field by Maricela Egan pushed the margin to 8-0 in the top of the fourth frame.
The Saints got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, scoring on a fielding error by right fielder Rochford, to slice the advantage to 8-1.
A two-run double to deep left field by Young gave BU a 10-1 edge in the top of the fifth.
Jurek gave up a pair of singles in the bottom of the fifth but ended the game by inducing a groundout to third base, securing the nine-run win.
Young went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs as four Bruins had multiple hits in the contest.
Jurek improved to 14-7 on the season, scattering three hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in five innings of work.
Game 2: Bellevue 17, Presentation 4 (5 innings)
Led by Lauren Russell, the Bruins peppered 15 hits en route to the 17-4 victory in the nightcap.
Russell finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, and five RBIs. Bliemeister was 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs.
A bases-loaded walk to Allison O'Driscoll gave the Bruins an early 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning.
BU extended the lead to 7-0 in the top of the second on Bliemeister's three-run homer to right-center field, Jurek's RBI single to center, and Russell's two-run double to left field.
The Saints got on the board in the bottom of the second with a solo homer to right-center field by Hannah Larson, cutting the deficit to 7-1.
A three-run homer to left field by Russell highlighted a seven-run third inning as BU expanded the lead to 14-1. BU registered five hits and took advantage of one Saint fielding error in the third frame.
A solo blast by Egan over the right-center field fence and RBI doubles by Mya Montero and Kelsey Arnold pushed the margin to 17-1 in the top of the fourth.
An RBI single to right by Cassy Loa sparked a three-run fourth inning as PC sliced the BU lead to 17-4.
Cory Carillo (5-1) earned the win, allowing six hits with one walk and six strikeouts in five innings in the circle.
