May 21, 2011

GULF SHORES, Ala. – (Box Score) Bellevue (Neb.) rallied past Minot State (N.D.) 6-4 on the final day of pool play action at the 2011 NAIA Softball National Championship Saturday.

Bellevue moves to 1-2 in pool play at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex, while Minot State falls to 0-3. The top team from each pool advances to an eight-team double-elimination bracket beginning May 23 at 10 a.m. CDT.

In a game featuring seven errors and 16 runners left on base, Bellevue capitalized on a walk, passed ball and two wild pitches to score a pair of sixth-inning runs to break a 4-4 tie. Kelly Wieczorek scored the game-winner on a wild pitch from Jen Dixon.

Amanda Neumann (23-10) picked up the win for the Bruins by limiting the Beavers to three runs on six hits in seven innings of work.

The sixth-inning Bellevue rally erased a three-run fifth by the Beavers that saw Dixon and Deanna Mitchell drive in runs.

Bellevue then used an outstanding defensive play from left fielder Kelsey Morrissey to seal the win. After Minot State put runners at first and second with two outs in the seventh inning, Morrissey tracked down a long fly ball to left and made a sprawling catch at the fence to seal the win.

Kim Wees led the Bruins with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate. She scored twice. Three other players finished with a pair of hits.

Melissa Elliott was the team leader for Minot State going 3-for-4 and two runs scored.

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