OMAHA, Neb. -- The Bellevue University softball team used a six-run fourth inning to push past the College of Saint Mary on Senior Night Wednesday evening in non-conference action at Roy Smith Field. Bellevue outhit the Flames 12-6, with Katie Cunningham, Mariah Unverzagt, and Liana McMurtry getting two hits apiece.
The Bruins improved to 18-15 on the season with the win. CSM fell to 5-24 overall.
The Flames got out of the gates quickly with a two-run homer to left-center field by Ella Watts, giving CSM an early 2-0 advantage.
Bellevue quickly answered in the bottom of the first when Kaitlyn Fisher led off the frame with her first home run of the season.
A suicide squeeze bunt by Amber Kosmicki scored Shaylynn Campbell from third, giving CSM a 3-1 lead in the top of the third inning.
Watts drove in Macy Santoni with an RBI infield single, giving the Flames a 4-1 edge in the fourth.
The Bruins erupted for six runs on seven hits in the bottom of the fourth inning, sparked by a two-run single to center field by Miranda Garcia. BU also scored on RBI singles from Liana McMurtry, Laila Fiscus, and Katie Cunningham and a groundout RBI by Savannah Short, giving BU a 7-4 lead.
The Flames scored on a Bruin fielding error to slice the deficit to 7-5 in the top of the sixth frame.
Mariah Unverzagt (3-1) retired the side in the top of the seventh to earn her third win of the season. She gave up one earned run on three hits with one walk and one strikeout in four innings in the circle.
Shaylynn Cambell (2-16) suffered the loss, surrendering six runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts in three innings of work.
The Bruins will host a four-game conference series with Mayville State University this Saturday-Sunday, April 12-13, at Roy Smith Field. Saturday's doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m. First pitch on Sunday is at noon.
