Bellevue rallies to top NWC, falls to CMU

ASHLAND, Mo. -- A five-run fifth inning saw the #23 Bellevue University baseball team rally past Northwestern College 8-3 before dropping a 5-1 decision to #21 Central Methodist University later in the day as the Bruins split a pair of non-conference games on Friday afternoon at Southern Boone HS.

Records:

#23 Bellevue: 3-6
Northwestern: 2-3
#21 Central Methodist: 7-3

Game One: BU 8, NWC 3

Tommy Hansen and Travis Tanaka both recorded two-hit days and Austin Alexander drilled a two-run home run to cap a five-run fifth inning that saw BU turned an early three-run deficit into an 8-3 victory.

The Bruins committed four of their five errors in the opening two frames which saw Northwestern score a run in the first on a Colton Harold single and two in the second on a Mason O'Donnell base hit.

Bellevue got on the board in the fifth scoring a run on a Tanaka single and another on Stuart Eurich's fielder's choice.

In the fifth inning, Hansen drove in a run with a base hit ahead of a two-run single from Tanaka before Alexander delivered the final blow with his long ball.

BU tacked on an insurance run in the seventh with an RBI-single from Hansen.

Mitch Savine (1-2) picked up the win in relief, allowing just two hits in 1.2 innings out of the bullpen. He yielded the mound to Derek Browne who worked a scoreless seventh to preserve the win.

Alex Rickabaugh (1-1) took the loss allowing three earned runs (four total) on three hits and five walks in 4.1 innings. Ryan Reynolds was charged with allowing three runs on three hits and a walk in just 0.2 innings of relief work.

Bruin starter Brandon Desjardins did not factor in the decision, working 4.1 and allowing three unearned runs on four hits and five walks while striking out three.

Game Two: CMU 5, BU 1

Central Methodist opened the game with a four-run first, accentuated on by a two-run home run off the bat of Damian Rodriquez and the Eagles never looked back.

Sergio Macias tacked on another run in the third with a home run to put CMU ahead 5-0.

BU got a run back as they tagged Peyton Long for his first earned run of the season when Tommy Hansen delivered a sac fly to score JT Patterson.

BU did not really threaten the rest of the way as Long (3-0) fired a complete game two-hitter to stay unbeaten on the season.

Stephen Knapp (1-2) settled down after a rocky first inning but took the loss for the visitors. He went the distance on the hill, allowing five runs on six hits and struck out four batters.

Up Next:

Bellevue concludes the weekend tomorrow with a double-header against Briar Cliff University. First pitch is scheduled for noon from Southern Boone HS.