Peschke
3
Winner Bellevue (NE) BELLEVUE 9-11
0
Madonna MADONNA 20-2
Winner
Bellevue (NE) BELLEVUE
9-11
3
Final
0
Madonna MADONNA
20-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Bellevue (NE) BELLEVUE 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 7 3
Madonna MADONNA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1

W: Mariah Unverzagt (3-3) L: Austin, Sara (2-2)

Game Recap: Softball |

Madonna Falls to Bellevue in Pitchers’ Duel

MELBOURNE, FL — Madonna University could not solve Bellevue (Neb.) right-hander Mariah Unverzagt on Friday afternoon, falling 3-0 in a neutral-site matchup, despite a solid start in the circle from Sara Austin.
All three runs came with two outs for Bellevue, which did its damage with a two-run second inning and an unearned insurance run in the seventh. In the top of the second, Bellevue cashed in consecutive baserunners when Macie Wyman drove in Miranda Garcia with an RBI groundout to second. Moments later, Savannah Short followed with a run-scoring single to center to plate Breanne McMurtry, giving Bellevue a 2-0 advantage that would hold the rest of the way.
Madonna threatened several times but stranded eight runners, including multiple innings with runners in scoring position. The Crusaders collected five hits and drew two walks and two hit-by-pitches, but Bellevue's defense and timely pitching kept Madonna off the board. Unverzagt worked efficiently in the circle, facing 29 batters and needing just 83 pitches to complete the seven-inning shutout, issuing only two walks and not allowing an extra-base hit.
Austin turned in a competitive effort for Madonna. The Crusaders' starter went 6.0 innings, allowing three runs — only two of them earned — on six hits while walking three and striking out two over a 127-pitch outing. She kept Bellevue off the board outside of the second inning, forcing routine contact and giving the Crusaders' defense chances to make plays.
Bellevue added its final run in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of Madonna's lone defensive miscue. After Kaitlyn Fisher reached and moved into scoring position, she came home on an error by the Crusaders' second baseman, pushing the lead to 3-0. The unearned run ended a stretch of four straight scoreless innings from the Madonna staff.
Offensively, Bellevue finished with seven hits, led by Fisher and Short, who each reached safely multiple times. Madonna matched Bellevue with 26 at-bats but could not come up with the key hit to swing momentum, as the Crusaders finished without a run despite putting the ball in play consistently and not striking out in the game.
The loss capped a tightly contested matchup with both teams turning in clean innings for most of the afternoon. Madonna's pitching and overall defensive play provided a solid foundation, and the Crusaders will look to build on those elements while seeking more timely offense as the Florida slate continues.
 
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