Baseball rallies to tie late, prevails in extras

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Junior Gabriel De La Rosa (Miami, Fla.) extended his hitting streak to nine with a game-winning single as the Bellevue University baseball team rallied for a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 10 innings on Sunday evening at Sliwa Stadium in a battle of nationally-ranked teams. No. 12 Bellevue improves to 7-2 with the win while No. 11 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) falls to 11-6 with the loss.

Embry-Riddle starter Tyler Cyr threw five no-hit innings to start the game until senior catcher Osvaldo Gonzalez (Miami, Fla.) broke up the bid for the no-no with a lead-off single in the top of the sixth.

Cyr worked seven innings and struck out five while allowing a pair of runs on two hits and six walks.

Embry-Riddle struck for a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of an RBI-triple by Liam Goodall and a run-scoring double by Matt Jacobs.

Bellevue starter Steve Sarcone (Utica, N.Y.) worked seven strong innings as well, keeping the Bruins close until they broke through for a pair of runs in top of the eighth. Sarcone was charged with allowing two runs on five hits and five walks but struck out a season-high six batters.

De La Rosa got Bellevue on the board by extending his RBI streak to five with an no-out run-scoring grounder to first base in the eighth to score junior center fielder Miles Campbell (New Cumberland, Pa.).

Junior Connor Garrison (Sedro-Woolley, Wash.), pinch running for junior second baseman Ross Feeley (Tehachapi, Calif.) scored on a wild pitch with two outs to allow Bellevue to tie the game 2-2.

No one scored over the next inning and a half to give the fans free baseball. In the top of the 10^th, De La Rosa extended his hitting streak to nine games with a one-out single to plate sophomore shortstop Elijah Dickerson (Vancouver, Wash.).

With one out Campbell led off the rally with a walk and advanced to second on a single by Feeley. A base knock to left by Gonzalez pushed Dickerson to second but Campbell was gunned down trying to score on the play. One batter later De La Rosa singled to center to chase home the go-ahead run.

Junior Marcco Lovato (Colorado Springs, Col.) got credit for the win, working 2.1 innings of scoreless relief to move to 1-0 on the year while senior right-hander Connor Chick (Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.) recorded the final two outs for his first save of the year.

Embry-Riddle's first two batters reached in the 10^th and made their way to scoring position with one out on a sac bunt to  put pressure on the Bruins. After a walk loaded the bases Chick induced a pop up by A.J. Mazzurco and struck out pinch-hitter Cody Bogart.

Zach Grotz (3-1) took the loss for the Eagles despite three solid innings of relief which saw him allow just one run on three hits and a walk while striking out three.

Bellevue will be back in action tomorrow with a 6:00 p.m. contest at Embry-Riddle.