Big fifth earns Bruins split with BCU on Saturday

ASHLAND, Mo. -- The No. 23 Bellevue University baseball team used a four-run fifth inning to rally in game two of Saturday's double-header and earn a split against Briar Cliff University at Southern Boone High School.

Records:

#23 Bellevue: 4-7
Briar Cliff: 3-3

Game One: BCU 3, BU 2

Bellevue out-hit Briar Cliff by a 6-3 margin in the opener but stranded nine runners on base in the ball game.

The Bruins got on the board first with an RBI-double by Tommy Hansen in the top of the fourth but Briar Cliff answered back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring a pair of runs on a Harrison Jestel single and a Michael Anthony fielder's choice.

Travis Tanaka brought the Bruins level on the scoreboard with his sixth inning sac fly but Trevor Adler won it for the Chargers with a sac fly of his own in the seventh that scored Jestel.

Jarrett Poh threw six quality innings but did not factor in the decision. Poh limited the Chargers to one earned run (two total) on three hits and a pair of walks. He struck out seven.

Colton Walker (0-1) took with the loss, allowing one run and a walk in 0.2 innings of relief.

Connor Christiansen (1-0) picked up the win in relief for BCU with 1.1 scoreless innings of relief.

Starter Jacob Wesselman tossed 5.2 effective innings holding the Bruins to a pair of runs on six hits. He struck out three and walked two.

Game Two: BU 8, BCU 5

Bellevue racked up a season-high nine hits in the nightcap, including two-hit games from both Cody Banks and Chuy Jimenez.

Banks doubled in a run to open the scoring in the first and Hunter Jury delivered a solo homer in the second to stake the Bruins to an early 2-0 lead.

Harrison Jestel produced an RBI-single and Rodney Scarver singled in a run to tie things up in the fourth for the Chargers.

Kory Longaker answered with a solo home run in the bottom half and another run came around to score on an error to restore Bellevue's two-run advantage.

After Darnell Prince's two-run knock and Arnulfo Gutierrez RBI-singled to give Briar Cliff the lead, Bellevue came right back with a four-run bottom of the fifth.

Riley Baasch drove in a run on a sac fly, Jimenez scored two with a base hit, and Stuart Eurich singled home the final Bruin run of the day.

Graham Cahill got the start for BU and struck out eight batters in 4.2 innings despite allowing five runs (all earned) on eight hits and a pair of walks.

Derek Browne (2-0) came on in relief to earn the win with 2.1 scoreless innings of two-hit ball. He struck out five and walked one.

Dalen Blair (0-1) took the loss for Briar Cliff allowing seven runs – just three earned – on seven hits and a walk while striking out four in 4.0 innings on the hill.

Up Next:

Bellevue heads south to warmer weather next weekend with a three-game series against #24 Keiser University at Silvester Field in West Palm Beach, Fla.