Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
OMAHA, Neb. -- The Bellevue University softball team opened its four-game North Star Athletic Association series against Dickinson State University with a sweep, downing the Blue Hawks 5-2 in the opener and 7-1 in the nightcap at Roy Smith Field.
The Bruins improved to 16-13 on the season and 5-1 in the NSAA. DSU dropped to 12-16 overall and 7-3 in league play.
Saturday's doubleheader with the Blue Hawks will begin at noon at Roy Smith Field.
Game 1: Bellevue 5, Dickinson State 2
Katie Cunningham drove in three runs on two homers and got the win in the circle as BU earned the 5-2 victory in the opener.
The Bruins got out of the gates quickly with a two-run homer to left-center field by Cunningham, giving BU an early 2-0 advantage in the top of the first inning.
An RBI double to left field by Laila Fiscus increased the lead to 3-0 in the top of the second frame.
Madison Machacek ripped an RBI single to center field, scoring Atiana Rodriguez from second, making it 4-0 in the top of the third inning.
The Blue Hawks cut the deficit to 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning on a two-run single to center field by Cassy Loa.
The Bruins got an insurance run when Cunningham launched a solo home run to left field to make it 5-2 in the top of the seventh inning.
Cunningham improved to 9-5 on the season, scattering four hits with one walk and ten strikeouts in seven innings of work.
Dallis Mitchell (5-4) suffered the loss, giving up five runs on eight hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in seven innings.
Game 2: Bellevue 7, Dickinson State 1
The Bruins used a five-run fourth inning, pounding out 10 hits en route to the 7-1 victory in the nightcap.
An RBI double to right-center field by Rodriguez gave the Bruins a 1-0 edge in the top of the first inning.
DSU tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third on a groundout RBI by Loa that scored HaiLeigh Davis from third.
BU quickly responded in the top of the fourth frame, with a pair of two-run homers by Breanne McMurtry and Machacek and an RBI single to right field by Cunningham, giving the Bruins a 6-1 advantage as Bellevue batted through the lineup.
The Bruins made it 7-1 in the top of the seventh on an RBI double to center field by Liana McMurtry.
Savannah Gunn improved to 5-3 on the season, allowing just two hits with three walks and two strikeouts in five innings in the circle. Cory Carrillo pitched two innings of hitless softball while striking out three Blue Hawks in relief.
Reannan Butler (2-5) took the loss, giving up four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work.
