SIOUX CENTER, Iowa -- In the second day of action at Dordt University's ASB Dome, the Bellevue University softball team reversed Sunday's decisions with a 9-4 loss to Concordia (Neb.) University and a 1-0 shutout over Benedictine (Kan.) College. On Sunday, BU defeated Concordia 6-0 and fell to Benedictine 3-2 in eight innings.
The split moves the Bruins to 5-3 on the season after finishing 2-2 on the weekend.
Bellevue will travel to Shawnee, Okla., for four games at the NAIA Softball Invitational next weekend. BU will take on Campbellsville and Arizona Christian on Saturday (Feb. 22) before concluding the tournament on Sunday with games against Missouri Baptist and Baker.
Concordia pounded out 15 hits and put the game away with five runs in the seventh frame en route to the 9-4 win over BU in the opener.
The Bulldogs struck first with an RBI single to center field by Hanna Bowers, giving CU an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
Bellevue answered in the bottom of the first with a solo homer to left field by Breanne McMurtry, tying the contest at 1-1.
An RBI triple to right field by Taryn Ganstrom and a run-scoring double to left field by Kylie Shottenkirk gave Concordia a 3-1 advantage in the top of the second.
BU sliced the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the third on an RBI single to center field by Mariah Unverzagt.
The Bulldogs responded in the top of the fourth on a fielder's choice RBI by Aubriana Krieser that scored Ganstrom from third, making it 4-2.
Unverzagt drove in another run in the bottom of the fifth on a bases-loaded fielder's choice RBI that scored Miranda Garcia from third, cutting the deficit to 4-3.
Concordia erupted for five runs in the top of the seventh on RBI singles by Bowers, Laycee Josoff, and Aubrey Bruning and on a two-run single to center by Delanie Voshell, padding the Bulldog lead to 9-3.
Unverzagt's single to center field drove in McMurtry in the bottom of the seventh, making the final 9-4.
Unverzagt (0-1) suffered the loss, giving up three runs on five hits with one walk and one strikeout in two innings of work.
McMurtry went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Unverzagt finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
Ganstrom (1-0) was credited with the win in relief, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 3.2 innings.
In a pitcher's duel that saw just one hit by both teams through the first five innings, the Bruins broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning when Kaitlyn Fisher led off the inning with a double to center field and was driven in by a single to left field from Katie Cunningham, giving BU a 1-0 lead heading into the seventh inning.
Amanda Waymire led off the top of the seventh with a single to right field, but the threat was quickly ended when Katie Cunningham induced a flyout, and Waymire was thrown out at second by Atiana Rodriguez. Cummingham ended the game with a strikeout for her second shutout of the weekend.
Cunningham improved to 3-1 on the season, allowing just three hits with no walks and six strikeouts in seven innings in the circle.
Bailey Selvage (0-2) was tagged with the loss, giving up one run on three hits with two walks and nine strikeouts in six innings of work.
