DICKINSON, N.D. — First-team all-conference pitcher Savannah Gunn proved she can star at the plate as well, powering the top-seeded Bellevue University softball team to an 8-0 victory (in five innings) over Mayville State University in the Bruins’ opening action of the 2024 North Star Athletic Association Tournament Saturday afternoon at Bravera Field on the Dickinson State University campus.
The Bruins (31-18) will play at noon (CT) on Sunday against the winner of the matchup between No. 2 Valley City State and No. 3 Dickinson State University in the winner’s bracket final.
Gunn went 3-for-3 on the day with a double, a home run, and five RBIs. Myla Beckstrom finished 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs.
A three-run homer to left field by Beckstrom gave the Bruins a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
BU doubled the advantage in the bottom of the third to 6-0 following Gunn’s three-run blast over the left-field fence. It marked Gunn’s first home run of her four-year Bruin career.
Gunn’s two-run double to left field pushed the margin to 8-0 in the bottom of the fourth.
Katie Cunningham improved to 17-8 on the season with the complete-game shutout. She scattered five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in five innings of work.
Emily Haines (6-16) suffered the loss, giving up six runs on six hits with one walk and no strikeouts in 2.2 innings in the circle.
