OLATHE, Kan. — MidAmerica Nazarene University used a dominant pitching performance in the opener and pounded 16 hits in the nightcap as the Pioneers recorded a doubleheader sweep over Bellevue University in non-conference softball action Wednesday afternoon at Williams Field. MNU won by scores of 2-0 and 6-1.
The Bruins dropped to 25-16 overall with the two losses. The Pioneers improved to 24-18 on the season.
Bellevue will host Viterbo University this Saturday-Sunday, April 20-21, at Roy Smith Field in Omaha. Saturday’s doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m. The Bruins’ five seniors will be honored following the second game. Sunday’s twin bill will start at noon.
The Bruins managed just two hits, and Mykala Johnico struck out 13 batters as MNU recorded the 2-0 shutout in the opener.
The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI single up the middle by Alli VanLanker that scored Dez Duncan from third.
MNU made it 2-0 in the bottom of the third on an RBI double to left field by Nyah Brown.
Katie Cunningham (14-6) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on eight hits with one walk and four strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work.
Johnico (9-9) scattered two hits with two walks and 13 K’s in the complete-game shutout.
Atiana Rodriguez recorded the Bruins’ only two hits of the contest, including a triple to right field to lead off the sixth frame. Johnico retired six of the next seven batters to earn the shutout victory.
The MNU offense recorded 16 hits as BU used three pitchers in the 6-1 loss in the nightcap.
The Pioneers grabbed a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first following an RBI single to left field by Kelly Stoakes.
An RBI single to center field by Duncan and a bases-loaded groundout RBI by Brown made it 3-0 in the bottom of the second inning.
The Bruins scored their first run of the day in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single to left field by Laila Fiscus, slicing the advantage to 3-1.
MNU responded in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single to center field by Brown, pushing the margin back to three runs at 4-1.
A two-run double to center field by Duncan made it 6-1 in the top of the fifth frame.
Savannah Gunn (8-5) was tagged with the loss, giving up four runs on eight hits with two strikeouts in four innings of work.
Grace Berlage (8-3) earned the win, scattering six hits with two walks and six strikeouts in five innings in the circle.
