May 2, 2026
DICKINSON, N.D. - Sixth-seed Bellevue (Neb.) defeated third-seed Valley City State (N.D.) 3-0 in the rematch of the opening round of the Frontier Conference softball postseason tournament on Saturday morning at Bravera Field. The Bruins used a three-run fourth inning and a combined shutout to win their third straight elimination game after dropping the opening round to the Vikings Thursday.
The decisive inning started with Marguerite Brown, who doubled to left and then moved to third on a wild pitch. Breanne McMurtry followed with an RBI single to left to put Bellevue in front 1-0.
Later in the inning, Savannah Short reached on a fielder’s choice that produced two more runs, with one run scoring on a Valley City State error, stretching the lead to 3-0. Bellevue finished with six hits, including three doubles, and did all of its damage in the fourth.
Brown turned in one of the game’s top offensive performances, going 2 for 3 with two doubles and a run scored. Short drove in two runs and added a walk, while McMurtry collected an RBI single and scored once. Bellevue also worked five walks, which helped create traffic even though the Bruins left seven runners on base.
In the circle, Mariah Unverzagt (W, 7-9) earned the win after throwing five scoreless innings for Bellevue. She did not allow a hit, struck out two and walked one on 52 pitches. BU's Carly Bertolini (S, 4) completed the shutout as the Vikings were limited to four hits and did not push a runner across despite putting the ball in play late.
VCSU pitcher Maddy Hazelton (L, 11-13) took the loss but kept her club within reach with a complete-game effort. Hazelton worked six innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out two and walking five over 101 pitches.
Offensively, Valley City State managed four hits, including a sixth-inning pinch-hit double to right by Hadley Gerle, but the Vikings were unable to convert their chances and left five runners on base.
Bellevue takes their 24-28 overall record to another elimination game, vying for a spot to the championship game versus the loser of Providence (Mont.)/Dickinson State (N.D.). The final elimination game is set for 3 p.m. (MT).
VCSU ends their season at 27-26 overall record.