OMAHA, Neb. -- Ashley Rising's walk-off RBI single helped the College of St. Mary softball team snap Bellevue University's 10-game winning streak, as the Flames earned a 5-4 victory in nine innings Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action at the CSM Softball Field.
The loss dropped the Bruins to 18-9 on the season. CSM improved to 6-14 overall.
Neither team scored until the Bruins opened up a 2-0 lead in the top of the third on a two-run single up the middle by Lauren Jurek.
The Flames responded in the bottom of the third, tying the contest on an RBI triple to right field by McKenzie Chappell and on a run-scoring infield single by Macy Homes.
CSM grabbed the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run home run by Maddie Nekola, giving the Flames a 4-2 advantage.
BU got one run back in the top of the fifth on a fielder's choice RBI by Maricela Egan that plated Liana McMurtry from third, making it 4-3.
The Bruins threatened in the top of the seventh when Alexa Rose singled to left field and advanced to second on a fielding error. After Emma Schnell forced a pop-up to Reese Floro and struck out McMurtry, Jurek's RBI single to right-center field scored Rose to tie the game at 4-4, forcing extra innings.
Using the international tiebreaker rule, Schnell kept the Bruins intact in the eighth and ninth innings, setting up Rising's game-winning RBI single to left field that scored Marissa McCargill from third, giving the Flames the dramatic 5-4 victory.
Jurek led the Bruins offensively, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
Schnell (5-6) earned the win allowing two runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts in six innings in the circle.
Katie Cunningham (5-6) was tagged with the loss after giving up two hits and one run with one walk and seven strikeouts in five innings of relief action.
The Bruins will host Valley City State in a four-game conference series this Saturday-Sunday, April 2-3, at Roy Smith Field. Saturday's doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday's twin bill will commence at noon.
