Morningside Box Score
Dordt Box Score
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa -- The Bellevue University softball team dropped a pair of games on Saturday at the Dodt Indoor Classic, falling 4-0 in the opener to Morningside University while dropping the finale to host Dordt University, 5-1, in the nightcap.
With the two losses, the Bruins fell to 4-3 on the season.
Bellevue will return to action when it travels to Clermont, Fla., on Mar 5-10, where the Bruins will compete in THE Spring Games.
Morningside 4, Bellevue 0
Morningside scored two runs in both the first and sixth innings, and Grace Buffington tossed a four-hit shutout as the Mustangs took the opener 4-0
A two-run double by Morgan Dixon down the left-field line gave the Mustangs an early 2-0 advantage in the top of the first inning.
MU increased the margin to 4-0 in the top of the sixth frame on a two-run double to right field by Kennedee Jones.
Katie Cunningham (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits with one walk and two strikeouts in seven innings in the circle. Cunningham gave up five doubles in the loss.
Buffington improved to 4-1 on the season, scattering four hits with one walk and five strikeouts in seven innings of work.
Dordt 5, Bellevue 1
The first four Defenders reached base as DU built an early 2-0 lead on an RBI triple to right-center field by Karli Olsen and an RBI single to left-center by Emma Groen, chasing starter Lauren Jurek who was replaced by Cunningham. Dordt added two more runs in the first on a two-run double to right field by Brynn Torrenga, giving the Defenders a 4-0 advantage after one-complete inning of play.
The Bruins scored their first run of the day on a solo homer to center field by Myla Beckstrom in the top of the fifth inning, cutting the deficit to 4-1.
The Defenders responded in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI triple to right field by Ella Koster, moving the margin back to four runs at 5-1.
Jurek (1-1) took the loss, giving up four runs on three hits in the first frame. Cunningham recorded 10 strikeouts in six innings of relief action.
Hailey Wilken earned the complete-game victory, allowing one run on four hits with no walks and two strikeouts in seven innings.
