BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Dickinson State University recorded a doubleheader sweep on Friday afternoon to take the series 3-1 over Bellevue University in North Star Athletic Association action at Roy Smith Field. DSU won the first contest, 6-4, before earning an 11-2 run-rule victory in five innings in the nightcap.
The two losses dropped the Bruins to 12-14 on the season and 1-3 in the NSAA. DSU improved to 17-9 overall and 3-1 in league play.
The Bruins will head to Lincoln on Tuesday, April 1, for a 5 p.m. contest at Nebraska Wesleyan University.
A two-run single up the middle by Jersi Morse and an RBI single to center field by Kara Conway highlighted a four-run second inning for the Blue Hawks.
The Bruins responded in the bottom of the second, sparked by a lead-off solo homer to center field by Breanne McMurtry, slicing the lead to 4-1.
An RBI double to center field by Katie Cunningham made it 4-2 in the bottom of the third frame.
Alison Eldridge earned the complete-game victory, improving to 7-5 on the season. She gave up two runs on six hits with three walks and nine strikeouts in seven innings.
Cunningham (7-6) suffered the loss, allowing three hits with one walk in two innings of work.
The Bruins left nine runners on base in the loss.
Dickinson State 11, Bellevue 2 (5 innings)
Dickinson State used three multi-run homers en route to the 11-2 victory in five innings in the nightcap.
A sacrifice fly to right field by Cunningham and an RBI missile down the right-field line by Savannah Short gave BU an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
A grand slam over the left-field fence by Bailey Hansen and a three-run home run to left-center field by Ashlee Potter sparked an eight-run third inning for DSU, giving the Blue Hawks an 8-2 advantage.
Hansen drilled a three-run homer in the top of the fourth to make it 11-2.
Hansen went 3-for-3 with two home runs and seven RBIs to lead the Blue Hawk offense.
Ellie Zoucha (3-6) suffered the loss, giving up seven runs on five hits with one walk and one strikeout in 2.1 innings in the circle.
Ava Jahner (5-1) earned the victory, scattering seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts in five innings of work.
