Pitching propels Bruins to a pair of wins
Bellevue lowered their team ERA to 4.00 as the Bruins won a couple of nail-biters, rallying past Columbia 3-2 and downing College of the Ozarks in extra innings by a 3-1 margin.
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. -- Backed by a pair of strong pitching performances the (RV) Bellevue University picked up two more non-conference wins on Saturday at Bob Smith Field to extend their current winning streak to eight games.
Bellevue rallied in the seventh for a 3-2 win over Columbia College in the opener before securing a 3-1 extra-inning victory over College of the Ozarks in Saturday's second game.
Records:
(RV) Bellevue: 28-14
Columbia: 20-16
Ozarks: 19-23
Game One: Bellevue 3, Columbia 2
Jarret Poh (5-0) allowed two runs on three hits in the top of the first but settled in from there to limit the Cougars to just two hits over the next six innings as he remained unbeaten on the season.
Ethan Howser opened the scoring with a two-out, two-run triple in the first inning. It was the first three-base hit allowed by Bruin pitching this season.
Columbia had an opportunity to add to their lead when an error and a walk put two runners on with two outs in the fourth but Poh retired Nolan Rattai with a fly ball to center to end the threat.
Bellevue saw just two runners reach scoring position before the seventh inning.
Tommy Hansen and Riley Baasch led off the home half of the seventh with back-to-back singles before coming around to score on a throwing error that allowed Wataru Kazama to reach base safely.
Kazama was lifted for pinch-runner Brandon Sparks who advanced to third on a flyout from Austin Alexander and came in to score the winning run on a wild pitch.
Travis Tanaka and Alexander each had multi-hit games for the Bruins.
Reid Browning (2-1) was hit with the loss despite allowing just one earned run (three total) on six hits in 6.1 innings on the hill.
Game Two: Bellevue 3, Ozarks 1 (9 Innings)
Austin Alexander recorded three doubles in four at-bats, including the one to drive in the eventual game-winning run in the ninth, to back a complete game effort from Bruin starter Colton Walker (3-2).
Ozarks got on the board first, scoring in the first inning. Kyle Abrahamson tallied a one-out double, took third on a ground out, and scored when Kole Kelley singled up the middle.
The early lead didn't last long as Bellevue tied things up in the top of the second. Tommy Hansen led off the frame with a walk and moved to third following a pair of wild pitches. CofO looked poised to escape the inning but Alexander doubled down the right field line to tie the game.
That's where the score remained until the ninth inning despite several scoring opportunities for the Bobcats that saw them strand two runners in the sixth and three in the eighth after loading the bases with just one out.
Bellevue saw their best chance to score in regulation in the seventh when Alexander produced a one-out double. Travis Tanaka was walked intentionally but was picked off at first for the third out to leave the runner stranded.
After a pair of quick outs in the ninth Hunter Jury sparked a rally by reaching on an error. Brandon Sparks entered as a courtesy runner and scored a batter later when Alexander ripped his third double of the game down the right field line. Stuart Eurich followed with a double of his own to chase in Alexander for a 3-1 lead.
Walker recorded two quick outs to open the ninth before Brent Shinkle singled to give Ozarks life. That was quickly dealt with when Walker struck out Max Pulley to end the game and secure the victory.
Walker scattered six hits over nine innings and allowed just one run to the Bobcats.
Bryce Burtless (2-4) turned in a quality outing for CofO as he held the Bruins to just three runs – one earned – on eight hits in a nine-inning outing.
Up Next:
Bellevue is scheduled to host Midland University on Tuesday, Apr. 16 at 4 p.m. for their annual Tanner's Day Game in what is expected to be their season debut at John Stella Field at Brown Park.