James' Homeruns not Enough as Bruins Sweep V-Hawks

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Softball team fell to Bellevue University (Neb.) in a pair of games in their North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) opener doubleheader on Saturday. Bellevue won the first game 0-8 and the second game 7-5. The V-Hawks drop to 2-12 (0-2 NSAA) while the Bruins improve to 12-7 (2-0 NSAA).  

Brittany Slocum nailed a double to left field in the bottom of the first for the V-Hawks, but would be stranded on base. The Bruins would start the scoring with an RBI double in the top of the second, and a big inning in the top of the third that saw a score on a stolen base, an RBI single, and a two-RBI single down the left field line. They would add to the lead with an RBI double and an RBI single in the fourth. Their final run would come on a solo home run in the sixth.

Slocum and Morgan James each had hits for the V-Hawks, while Katie Cunningham led the Bruins by going 1-for-2 and two RBI's. Maddie Wilkey (L, 1-5) had a single strikeout, and Cunningham (W, 5-4) had 10 in six innings.

Bellevue started the second game hot, with a three-run home run in the top of the first inning. James would send one over the fence for the V-Hawks first run of the game in the bottom of the second, and an RBI single for the Bruins in the third brought the score to 1-4. Each team would record a two-RBI home run ion the fourth, James recording her second homer of the game. Alina Garstka closed the Bellevue lead to just 5-6 with a two RBI single that scored Addie Schroeder and Megan Jardine, but BU would add a final run in the top of the seventh, and would win 7-5.

James led the V-Hawks, going 2-for-3 with three RBI's and two homeruns, and Garstka had two RBI's in her only at-bat. Liana McMurtry went 3-for-4 with four RBI's for the Bruins. Payton Lamont (L, 1-3) recorded the loss, and Cory Carrillo (W, 3-1) had nine strikeouts while Cunningham earned her first save of the year.

The series continues on Sunday, March 26 at noon.