Bellevue College softball, after two huge wins on Wednesday, ended up with a split over the weekend at home against Olympic and Skagit Valley. On Fri. Apr. 4, the ‘dogs were stunned 9-3 in game one to Olympic before taking game two 12-4. On Sat. Apr. 5, the Bulldogs topped Skagit Valley 12-4 before dropping game two 9-7.
In the Friday opener, Bellevue’s normally potent offensive lineup was stymied by the duo of Madison Kelker and Shelby Avery, who combined for Olympic’s win. Although the Bulldogs got off 10 hits in the game, the big power blows that the Bulldogs have relied on all year were missing. Riley Pirkle had two RBI’s including an RBI single in the first. In the circle, Pirkle was dominant at times with 14 strikeouts, but surrendered 14 hits and eight walks giving the Rangers enough opportunities to generate runs.
In game two, BC’s offense returned to normal with four runs in the first inning and another five in innings two and three for a commanding 9-0 lead early on. Singles by Ryleigh Wotzka, Avery Grutz and Ella Singer all scored Bellevue runners in the first. Pirkle tripled before a Wotzka double in the second. Anna Fowler joined in with a two-RBI double in the third, scoring Preslie Jensen and Singer. Wotzka had three RBI’s while Brooke Baker scored three runs to lead the Bulldogs. Baker also went the complete game in the circle with eight strikeouts.
In Saturday’s opening game, Hallie Sehlin was five-for-five with four RBI’s as her first inning single plated BC’s first run scoring Maddie Repp. Wotzka had a three RBI double in the first as well, scoring Pirkle, Sehlin, and Baker. Baker and Sehlin both had two RBI doubles in the five run sixth to end the game due to the run limit rule.
In the nightcap loss, the Cardinals rallied in the seventh for four runs to take the lead. In the bottom of the seventh, Singer led off the inning getting on by an error, but two quick outs made any late game heroics a difficult task as a fly out ended the threat. Singer, Fowler, Pirkle, and Sehlin all had two hits.
Bellevue’s two weekend losses put them back into a tie for first place with Everett at 11-3. BC is 15-5 overall and will head to the Yakima for the NWAC Crossover Tourney at Gateway Complex. Bellevue will play SW Oregon on Sat. Apr. 12 at 9:30 a.m. to start the tourney off. Other games are slated for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday against Columbia Basin and a Sunday doubleheader against Mt. Hood (9 a.m.) and Grays Harbor (2 p.m.).
Last Updated April 6, 2025
