OMAHA, Neb. -- The Bellevue University softball team belted three home runs to cruise to a 10-2 run-rule win in the opener, but dropped the nightcap 10-6, settling for a split with Dakota State University in North Star Athletic Association action Friday afternoon at Roy Smith Field.
The Bruins moved to 27-18 overall and 11-7 in NSAA play with the split. The Trojans are now 6-34 overall and 2-16 in the league.
The two teams will conclude the four-game series on Sunday with a noon doubleheader in Madison, S.D.
Game 1: Bellevue 10, Dakota State 2 (5 innings)
The Bruins rode a powerful offensive display to a five-inning victory, outhitting Dakota State 11-6 and launching three home runs in the opener.
Mariah Unverzagt gave BU an early lead with a three-run homer to left in the first inning.
Breanne McMurtry opened the second with a solo shot, sparking another three-run frame to push the lead to 6-0.
After Dakota State trimmed the deficit to 6-2 with a two-run double by Michelle Evdos in the third, BU answered as Kaitlyn Fisher delivered an RBI single in the bottom half to make it 7-2.
Alexa Sidel capped the scoring in the fourth with a three-run homer to left field.
Unverzagt and Sidel both finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a home run.
Katie Cunningham (13-7) picked up the win, striking out seven while allowing six hits and no walks over five innings.
Mason Usselman (1-10) took the loss for DSU, giving up 10 runs on 10 hits in 3.1 innings.
Game 2: Dakota State 10, Bellevue 6
In the nightcap, Dakota State used a pair of three-run homers and a four-run fourth inning to outslug BU and earn the split.
Liana McMurtry got the Bruins started with an RBI double down the right-field line in the first inning.
The Trojans tied it in the second, capitalizing on a BU throwing error that allowed Quincy Hartley to score.
Michelle Evdos gave DSU its first lead of the day with a three-run homer to left in the third, making it 4-1.
The Bruins pulled within 4-2 on another Trojan error before Breanne McMurtry crushed a two-run homer to center in the fourth, tying the game at 4-4.
Dakota State quickly reclaimed momentum in the fifth. Gabrielle Ortega-Alves plated a run with a sacrifice fly, and Hartley followed with a three-run homer to extend the lead to 8-4.
Alexa Sidel homered for the second time on the day—and the fourth time this season—a two-run shot to left in the bottom of the fifth that narrowed the gap to 8-6.
The Trojans tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth, including an RBI infield single by Hannah McFarland and a bases-loaded walk to Evdos.
Analicia Burgos earned her first save of the season, holding BU to just one hit over the final three innings.
Ellie Zoucha (5-8) took the loss for the Bruins, allowing eight runs on eight hits over 4.1 innings. Maycee Bricker (5-9) earned the win for DSU, working four innings and scattering eight hits.
