Bruins down Central Baptist in MCAC-Opener, drop nightcap

CONWAY, Ark. – The Bellevue University baseball team pounded out 14 hits to win their 2015 Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference-opener 12-2 in seven innings at Central Baptist College on Saturday afternoon. The No. 12 Bruins were shutout by Central Baptist, 2-0, in the nightcap of the double-header.

Bellevue moves to 20-6 overall and stands at 1-1 in league play with the sweep while Central Baptist now stands at 16-7 (5-1 MCAC).

Game One: Bellevue 12, Central Baptist 2

Senior Osvaldo Gonzalez (Miami, Fla.), junior Colton Nash (Bonney Lake, Wash.), and junior Gabriel De La Rosa (Miami, Fla.) – the 3-4-5 hitters in the BU line-up – combined to go 9-for-13 on the afternoon, driving in nine runs as the Bruins cruised to a 12-2 victory in their 2015 MCAC-opener.

The Bruins jumped on the board early, scoring four first inning runs, in support of senior right-hander Steve Sarcone (Utica, N.Y.) who picked up his fourth win of the season. Nash delivered a two-run double and De La Rosa followed with a two-run single in the top of the first before Central Baptist starter Ryan Smith could record an out.

The Mustangs struck for a run in the bottom half and trailed 6-2 after four before the Bruins broke out for their second big inning of the game. Gonzalez delivered a two-run double while Nash and De La Rosa offered up RBI-singles as the Bruins hung a 5-spot to take full command of the game, 11-2, headed into the bottom of the fifth inning.

Sarcone (4-1) provided six solid innings of work allowing two runs while scattering six hits and striking out five for the Bruins.

Game Two: Central Baptist 2, Bellevue 0

Junior Braulio Torres-Perez (Auburn, Wash.) was lights out in game two but the Bellevue offense couldn't solve Brian Moreno as Central Baptist blanked the Bruins 2-0 to salvage a split on the day.

Moreno threw seven shutout innings while limiting BU to just four hits to pick up the victory.

The Mustangs struck for both of their runs in the bottom of the second on an RBI-single by Nash Nichols to plate Ryan Johnson and a squeeze play by Deonta Howard that plated Cody Rhoades.

Gabriel De La Rosa and senior Aaron Brasher (Vallejo, Calif.) were the bright spots offensive for the Bruins. De La Rosa was 2-for-3 with a double while Brasher went 1-for-2 with a walk on the game.

Torres-Perez (3-2) went the distance for Bellevue, allowing two runs on three hits and five walks while striking out five.

Bellevue and Central Baptist will be back at it tomorrow with a 1:00 p.m. double-header to close the four-game series.