Bruins sweep Drovers on Opening Day

CHICKASHA, Okla. - The No. 12 Bellevue University baseball team swept (RV) University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in a season-opening double-header on Friday afternoon. The Bruins won the first game by a final of 10-2 before taking the nightcap 7-0 over the home-standing Drovers.

For Bellevue (2-0), the win in the season-opener was just their second in the last nine seasons with the other coming in 2013, a 4-3 triumph over Mount Mercy University.

USAO (4-2) had won four-straight over Texas College last weekend to open the season. Bellevue has now defeated USAO in 11-straight contests as the Bruins own an 11-1 lead in the all-time series which dates to 2001.

Game One: Bellevue 10, USAO 2

Junior outfielder Miles Campbell (New Cumberland, Pa.), senior catcher Osvaldo Gonzalez (Miami, Fla.), and junior outfielder Gabriel De La Rosa (Miami, Fla.) each homered and senior right-hander Steve Sarcone (Utica, N.Y.) worked five strong innings as Bellevue won their season-opener 10-2 over USAO.

The Bruins hopped on the scoreboard in the opening half-inning as junior outfielder Colton Nash (Bonney Lake, Wash.) reached on a two-out, run-scoring error and De La Rosa followed that up with a two-run single to push Bellevue to an early 3-0 lead. USAO got a run back in the bottom half of the first on a two-out double by Owen Adams.

Sarcone did well to escape danger in the bottom of the second. After the first two batters reached via a walk and a hit batsmen Sarcone settled down to induce a groundball double-play by Blake Scannell and a groundout by Colton Baker. Sarcone (1-0), in his five innings, surrendered just two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five to pick up his first win of the season.

In the top of the third, each of Bellevue's first three batters reached when senior infielder Tyler Blood's (Salt Lake City, Utah) single scored Nash with the Bruins' fourth run of the contest. Two batters later Campbell delivered Bellevue's first big fly of the season, a three-run shot to right-center to stretch the lead to six at 7-1.

Issac Rodriguez's home run in the bottom of the fourth pulled the Drovers within five.

Gonzalez and De La Rosa added solo home runs for Bellevue in the sixth and seventh, respectively to push Bellevue to a 9-2 advantage. Junior infielder Connor Garrison (Sedro-Woolley, Wash.) reached on an error that allowed Campbell to score to punctuate the scoring on the afternoon.

Junior Marcco Lovato (Colorado Springs, Col.) worked two scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing just one hit, in relief to pin down the victory for the Bruins.

Alsis Herrara suffered the loss on the hill for the Drovers to fall to 1-1 on the year. He allowed 10 hits and three walks over six innings while six of the eight runs her surrendered were earned.

Game Two: Bellevue 7, USAO 0

Sophomore right-hander Stephan Meyer (Tucson, Ariz.) was terrific on the mound for Bellevue and the Bruins saw some timely hitting pay dividends as they defeated USAO 7-0 to complete the season-opening sweep.

Meyer (1-0) threw five scoreless innings, allowing six hits and just one walk while striking out a career-high nine to claim his first collegiate victory.

Bellevue struck first in the nightcap as sophomore infielder Elijah Dickerson (Vancouver, Wash.) homered to left-center to put the Bruins up 1-0 in the top of the third. The next batter up, Garrison, walked and was sacrificed to second by junior second baseman Ross Feeley's (Tehachapi, Calif.) bunt. Sophomore infielder Todd Nicks (Bakersfield, Calif.) and Gonzalez followed with a pair of run-scoring doubles to extend the Bruins' advantage to 3-0.

USAO threatened to get back in the game in the bottom half of the third, placing runners on the corners with two outs but Meyer struck out Adams looking to retire the side on strikes and escape the jam.

Bellevue struck twice with two outs in the bottom of the fourth following a pair of poor plays on the same passed ball as junior pinch-runner Edwin Rodriguez (Ponce, P.R.) scored from third and Garrison scored from first during Feeley's plate appearance.

The Bruins threatened in the top of the fifth, putting runners on second and third with just one out. Campbell would fail to advance the runners by grounding out to third before senior catcher Aaron Brasher (Vallejo, Calif.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Dickerson flew out to center to end the threat and keep the Drovers' hopes alive.

Brasher knocked in an insurance run for the Bruins in the top of the seventh with a single to right to plate De La Rosa who had singled earlier in the inning. The next batter, Dickerson, reached on a fielder's choice to plate Campbell who reached on a fielder's choice of his own two batters prior.

Senior righty Connor Chick (Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.) worked a scoreless sixth inning in relief for Bellevue, allowing one hit and striking out one. Kevin Rodriguez pitched a perfect seventh for the Bruins striking out the first two batters he faced before inducing a ground ball to end the ball game.

Zane Breschini took the loss for USAO working five innings and allowing five runs (three earned). He allowed five hits and five walks while striking out three.

Bellevue will return to the diamond tomorrow when they take on Benedictine College (0-2) in a double-header. First pitch is slated for noon.