May 1, 2026

DICKINSON, N.D. - Sixth-seeded Bellevue (Neb.) scored early, added a decisive three-run fifth inning and held off a late push from seventh-seed Mayville State (N.D.) for a 5-3 win in the 2026 Frontier Conference Softball elimination game on Friday at Bravera Field.

Bellevue (22-28 overall record) opened the scoring in the top of the first when Daniela Ramirez singled home Mariah Unverzagt. The Bruins added to the lead in the fourth on Miranda Garcia’s RBI double, then answered Mayville State’s first run with their biggest inning of the day in the fifth.

Marguerite Brown led off that frame with a solo home run, Ramirez doubled later in the inning to help keep the rally going, and Leslie Egan followed with an RBI double as Bellevue stretched the margin to 5-1.

Mayville State stayed within reach and showed life in the bottom of the fourth, when Whitney Rozdeba drove in Lisa-Marie Cante on a groundout to third. The Comets made the final innings tense in the sixth.  Madison Terres hit a solo home run to cut the deficit to 5-2, and Mackenzie Fuxa brought home another run on a fielder’s choice to make it 5-3.

Bellevue kept the lead intact from there, advancing to Friday's evening elimination game at 5 p.m. (MT) versus the 1 p.m. loser of Bismarck State (N.D.) and Dickinson State (N.D.).

Bellevue finished with five runs on 10 hits and one error, while Mayville State had three runs on seven hits and one error.

The Bruins’ offense was led by Egan, who went 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Brown went 2 for 3 with a home run, and Garcia added a double, an RBI and a walk. Ramirez delivered two key extra-base and run-producing swings, including the game’s first RBI single and a fifth-inning double.

For Mayville State, Cante went 3 for 3 and scored twice, giving the Comets traffic throughout the afternoon. Terres provided the biggest extra-base hit with her sixth-inning homer. In the circle, Bellevue worked efficiently over seven innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs while walking one and striking out four on 83 pitches, 57 for strikes. Mayville State’s staff threw 119 pitches and surrendered 10 hits, four walks and five earned runs.

The Comets end their season at 15-32 overall record.