KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Bellevue University softball team fell behind 6-0 in the first four innings before dropping a 9-4 decision to St. Thomas (Fla.) University in the Bruins opening contest of THE Spring Games Sunday afternoon at Fortune Road Athletic Complex.
The loss dropped the Bruins to 6-5 on the season. STU improved to 5-5 overall.
The Bobcats took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first as the first three STU batters recorded hits, including an RBI infield single by Oaskarley Ochoa and a run-scoring double by Daniela Bautista.
A two-run double to center field by Destiny Pacetti and a sacrifice fly to right field by Maria Barranco increased the Bobcat advantage to 5-0 in the bottom of the third inning.
A sacrifice fly to right field by Nicky Heisler made it 6-0 in the bottom of the fourth frame.
The Bruins got on the board in the top of the fifth inning, scoring on an RBI single up the middle by Reese Floro to slice the deficit to 6-1. Thanks to three fielding errors in the same inning, Floro plated a run to pull BU to within four runs at 6-2.
The Bobcats responded in the bottom of the fifth with a solo homer to left field by Gabriella Gilbert to push the margin back to five runs at 7-2.
Bellevue plated a pair of runs in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly to left field by Amanda Placzek and on an RBI single to center field by Liana McMurtry to slice the deficit to 7-4.
A BU throwing error and an RBI bunt single by Dovie Jarc allowed the Bobcats to gain a 9-4 edge in the bottom of the sixth inning.
After allowing a baserunner following an STU fielding error, Erica Winter retired the final three Bruins to earn the 9-4 victory.
Floro led the Bruins offensively, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Katie Cunningham (1-4) suffered the loss, allowing five runs on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts in three innings of work.
Winter (4-1) earned the win, scattering 10 hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in seven innings in the circle.
The Bruins continue action in THE Spring Games on Monday (Mar. 7) when they take on Dordt University at 12:30 p.m. and the University of Northwestern Ohio at 2:45 p.m.
