Bruins split, take series from York

OMAHA, Neb. -- Pitching ruled the day as the Bellevue University baseball team split a double-header with York College on Saturday afternoon at Westgate Field in Omaha. The Bruins claimed the opener, 2-0, behind a dominant effort from sophomore starter Stephan Meyer (Tucson, Ariz.) before dropping the nightcap 3-1.

Bellevue is now 26-7 (6-2 MCAC) while York runs its record to 19-13 (7-5 MCAC) with the split. The loss in the nightcap snapped a six-game win streak for the home-standing Bruins while the win was the first for York after a string of three straight losses.

Game One: Bellevue 2, York 0

Bellevue scored a run in the first and third and Stephan Meyer made them stand up with a complete-game four-hitter in which he struck out nine as Bellevue defeated York, 2-0, to clinch a series win.

Juniors Trevor Jones (West Richland, Wash.) and Ross Feeley (Tehachapi, Calif.), senior Osvaldo Gonzalez (Miami, Fla.), and freshman Dan Greco (Papillion, Neb.) each recorded two hits on the afternoon for the Bruins.

Gonzalez put the Bruins on the board first with a run-scoring single to left to plate Jones. Two innings later Jones delivered a run-scoring single of his own to center to plate Greco from second without a throw.

From the Meyer made the most of his run support. The hard-throwing righty retired 13 Panthers in order heading into the ninth and eight of his nine strikeouts were York batters caught browsing. Meyer improved to 5-2 on the year with his third victory in as many outings.

The few times York threatened Meyer was able to escape damage, including recording three consecutive inning-ending ground ball double plays to close out the second, third, and fourth innings.

Game Two: York 3, Bellevue 1

Julio Angulo limited the Bruins to just one unearned run on five hits and a pair of walks over 6.2 innings as York salvaged game four on Saturday to avoid the series sweep. PJ Matha recorded the final out of the game to pick up his fifth save of the year in support of Angulo who improved to 5-2 with the win.

Bellevue junior Drew Ferguson (Overland Park, Kan.) struggled all day as York hitters did a good job working the count, drawing five walks to go along with five base hits off the southpaw. Ferguson lasted 4.1 innings and allowed two runs (both earned) as he suffered his first loss of the season, falling to 4-1.

York threatened for a big inning in the third, loading the bases with no outs but Ferguson did a good job dodging too much damage. Ferguson got Garret Anctil to ground into a twin-killing, which saw a run score, but that would be the only run the Panthers got until the fifth.

Facing another bases loaded situation in the fifth Jose Bueno drew a walk off __ reliever Aaron Bain (Cambridge, Ont.) to double the lead to 2-0. The Panthers added another bases loaded run in the sixth when Anthony Enriquez reached on a fielder's choice, plating pinch runner Austin Dredge.

The Bruins scored a run in the bottom half of the sixth on an RBI-groundout by Ross Feeley that scored pinch runner Connor Garrison (Sedro-Woolley, Wash.). Bellevue threatened to add more but left runners at the corners to end the inning.

BU had a chance to tie or win in the bottom of the seventh, once again putting runners at first and second with two outs but Matha got junior Kevin Rodriguez (Pico Rivera, Calif.) to ground into a fielder's choice on a sharply hit ball.

The Bruins return to the diamond with a four-game set at Central Christian College on Friday and Saturday, Apr. 3-4. Friday's action will start at 4:00 p.m. and Saturday will see a noon start.