DICKINSON, N.D. -- The top-seeded Bellevue University softball team scored in the bottom of the seventh on a Dakota State throwing error to survive over the fourth-seeded Trojans with a 2-1 victory Saturday afternoon in the North Star Athletic Association Tournament being held at Bravera Field.
The Bruins, who improved to 40-10 on the season will play in a winner's bracket contest against either Valley City State or Dickinson State at noon (central time) on Sunday.
Dakota State will battle Mayville State at 4 p.m. today in a loser's bracket game.
Michelle Evdos hit a two-out double in the top of the first and scored on the same play after the Bruins committed two-straight errors, giving DSU a 1-0 lead.
The Trojans' defense halted the Bruins' scoring through five innings, leaving a runner on third base four times while stranding eight total baserunners in the contest.
Dakota State was unable to extend its lead in the top sixth frame, despite a lead-off double by Entringer and a stolen base to advance to third with no outs as Lauren Jurek retired three-straight batters.
Liana McMurtry and Atiana Rodriguez hit back-to-back singles with one out in the bottom sixth to set up a comeback attempt for the Bruins. Bellevue knotted the game at 1-1 with a two-out RBI single to center field by Madison Machacek that scored McMurtry from second.
Sami Reding led off the bottom seventh by being hit-by-pitch. Reese Floro hit a pop-out bunt while Reding advanced to second base on a DSU throwing error. Reding stole third base and scored the game-winning run on a throwing error by Trojan catcher Michelle Evdos to give BU the dramatic 2-1 victory.
Reding and McMurtry each finished the game by going 2-of-2 at the plate for Bruins. Rodriguez also added a pair of hits while Machacek produced the game's only RBI.
NSAA Pitcher-of-the-Year Lauren Jurek (13-2) earned the complete game victory as she did not allow an earned run while scattering six hits with no walks and four strikeouts in seven innings of work.
Maycee Bricker started the game for Dakota State, pitching six innings. She limited the Bruins to one run on eight hits and registered three strikeouts. Sophia Cordova (4-6) suffered the loss after working in the seventh inning.
