SOFTBALL: Top seed Bruins roll past No. 4 seed Comets in five innings
Bellevue (Neb.) moves one game away for NSAA Championship spot
Nick Huntimer, NSAA Sports Information Director
May 4, 2024
DICKINSON, N.D. – Top-seeded Bellevue (Neb.) powered past fourth-seeded Mayville State (N.D.) Saturday afternoon, thanks to a pair of 3-run home runs in back-to-back innings in the winner’s bracket of the North Star Athletic Association Softball Postseason Tournament. The postseason tournament is hosted by Dickinson State (N.D.) at Sanford Sports Complex.
Bellevue, who received votes recognition in the final edition of the NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 national poll, lifted their overall record to 31-18. The Bruins move on the winner’s bracket against Saturday’s winner of Dickinson State-Valley City State (N.D.).
Mayville State was forced into the loser’s bracket, taking on No. 7 seed Viterbo (Wis.) later this afternoon at 4 p.m. (MT).
Myla Beckstrom blasted a 3-run home run in the bottom second to give Bellevue a 3-0 lead.
The Bruins continued their scoring surge in the bottom third, sparked by a lead-off double by Liana McMurtry and a single by Breanna McMurtry. Savannah Gunn blasted a 3-run home run to balloon the Bruins’ lead to 6-0.
Gunn added a 2-RBI double in the bottom fourth to round out the final score. She finished the game by going perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a home run, double, single, and drove in five runs.
NSAA Pitcher- and Player-of-the-Year Katie Cunningham (W, 17-8) limited the Comets to five hits in the game and recorded seven strikeouts to earn a complete game victory.
Beckstrom added two hits and finished with three RBIs in the game for BU.
Erika Howell tallied a double and single for Mayville State. Lindsey Tulla, Mackenzie Iverson, Alyssa Avila each had a single.
Emily Haines (L, 6-16) took the loss in the pitching circle for the Comets, working for 2 2/3 innings and giving up six runs on six hits. Lacey Mathiowetz tossed 1 1/3 innings in relief, allowing two runs on four hits.