BU upsets top-ranked Bison, 4-2, force deciding elimination game

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SHAWNEE, Okla. -- The Bellevue University (40-16-2) baseball team survived a late rally and snapped top-ranked Oklahoma Baptist University's (52-7) 22-game winning streak with a 4-2 win Thursday afternoon in the NAIA Opening Round at Bison Field at Ford Park.

The two teams will play at 3 p.m. with the winner advancing to the 58th annual Avista-NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho on May 23-30.

Galli Cribbs, Kyle Kinman and Charlie Krueger all collected two hits to lead the offense.

The first three Bruin batters singled before Cribbs blasted a grand slam to give BU a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning.

OBU scored two runs on four hits in the top of the eighth inning to pull within two, 4-2. Steven Knudson and Ivan Vela both notched RBIs hits.

The first two batters reached base in the ninth inning, but Sean Felt was able get three of the final four batters out.

The Bison left the bases loaded in the final two innings.

Steve Sarcone improved to 7-3 after tossing five scoreless innings while Felt pitched the final four innings to earn his second save of the season.

Jimmy Parra fell to 7-2 and allowed four runs on nine hits with four strikeouts in eight innings.

The Bruins have seven wins over top 25 teams this season.

Bellevue owns a 7-9 all-time record in the NAIA Opening Round since the format was adopted in 2009.

NAIA Championship Opening Round - Shawnee Bracket

Shawnee, Okla. | Bison Field at Ford Park

Monday, May 12
Game 1: Bacone def. Friends, 5-2

Tuesday, May 13
Game 2: Bellevue def. Northwestern (Iowa), 2-1
Game 3: Oklahoma Baptist def. Bacone, 10-3
Game 4: Northwestern (Iowa) def. Friends, 12-5

Wednesday, May 14
Game 5: Oklahoma Baptist def. Bellevue, 4-0
Game 6: Bacone def. Northwestern (Iowa), 2-0
Game 7: Bellevue def. Bacone, 2-1

Thursday, May 15 (Championship)
Game 8: Bellevue def. Oklahoma Baptist, 4-2
Game 9: Bellevue vs. Oklahoma Baptist, 3 p.m.