TUCSON, Ariz. -- Sixth-ranked Madonna University scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to earn a 7-6 come-from-behind victory over Bellevue University on Monday at the Tucson Invitational Games.
The Bruins led 6-4 entering the final frame, but Madonna tied the game on Ashley Rosiewicz's two-run home run before a sacrifice fly by Madison Ming brought in the go-ahead run.
The loss dropped Bellevue to 8-6 on the season, while MU improved to 10-4 overall.
The Crusaders took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI groundout by Brynn Anteau, scoring Alissa Gauthier from third.
Bellevue loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom half of the first after MU starter Courtney Ludescher gave up three walks but was able to strike out Miranda Garcia to end the threat.
Madonna added two runs in the top of the second on an RBI double to left-center field by Jessica Dunkel and on a run-scoring single to center field by Faith Peschke, making it 3-0.
The Bruins erupted for five runs in the bottom of the second inning, scoring four against Ludescher to take a 4-3 lead and forcing her out of the game. Liana McMurtry got the rally started with an RBI double to left field, followed by Mariah Unverzagt's two-run single to right. Breanne McMurtry then added an RBI single up the middle, putting BU in front and prompting the pitching change. Jane Anderson took over in relief but struggled early, issuing a bases-loaded walk to Garcia, bringing in another run and extending BU's lead to 5-3 as the game moved into the third inning.
MU responded in the top of the third inning with a sacrifice fly to left field by Ming, scoring Anteau from third, trimming the BU margin to 5-4.
Bellevue extended the lead to 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Kaitlyn Fisher led off the frame with a double down the left-field line and was driven in by Katie Cunningham's RBI single to left field.
The Crusaders tied the game in the top of the seventh on a two-run home run by Ashley Rosiewicz and took the lead on a sacrifice fly to center field by Ming that scored Rylee Fitzpatrick from third, giving MU a 7-6 advantage, as MU recorded five hits in the inning.
After Anderson gave up a walk to begin the bottom of the seventh, she retired the next two batters before Fisher recorded an infield single to put runners on first and second with two outs. Unverzagt popped up to Anderson to end the game, giving the Crusaders the 7-6 victory.
Fisher went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple. Cunningham finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and Unverzagt drove in a pair of runs to pace the Bruin offense.
Cunningham (5-2) suffered the loss, giving up seven runs on 13 hits with two walks and two strikeouts in seven innings in the circle.
Anderson (4-3) was credited with the win, allowing one run on four hits with two walks and three K's in 5.2 innings of work.
The Bruins will play a pair of games on Tuesday, Mar. 4, at the Tucson Invitational Games, beginning with a 10 a.m. contest against St. Francis (Ill.), followed by a noon matchup with 11th-ranked Northwestern (Iowa).
