Bats quiet as BU drops at pair at East/West Challenge

MESA, Ariz. -- After a walk-off defeat and being shutout for the first time in three years, the No. 7 Bellevue University baseball team dropped a pair of pitcher's duels on day two of the NAIA Ball East-West Challenge.

The Bruins began the day with a 4-3 walk-off loss to No. 3 Lewis-Clark State College before being shutout by No. 17 Vanguard University, 3-0, for the first time since Apr. 20, 2021.

Game One: LCSC 4, BU 3

Charlie Updegrave drove in three runs, including a walk-off single with two outs in the ninth to lift the Warriors to a 4-3 win over Bellevue.

Alec Ackerman opened the scoring in the third as he doubled home Anthony Lind with the game's first run.

An inning later, Tradd Richardson plated Nick Grade with a squeeze play to stake departing starter Brock Townsend to a 2-0 lead. Townsend was sharp in his Bruin debut with three innings of one-hit ball.

Updegrave knocked home his first run in the fourth. Nick Seamons greeted reliever Kenji Miller with a double before coming home to score on Updegrave's single.

The Bruins remained in front until the combination of Seamons and Updegrave struck in the sixth. Ike George reached to lead off the inning ahead of Seamons' second double as the Warriors tied things up at 2-2. A passed ball moved Seamons to third where Updegrave lifted a sac fly to left, allowing Seamons to come home with the go-ahead run.

Parker McMan came on in the seventh for Bellevue and put up zeroes in both the seventh and eighth innings to allowing BU to scratch their way even in the ninth.

Brendan Luther rapped a two-out single before being lifted for a pinch-runner Takumi Maeno. A single from Lind advanced Maeno into scoring position for Ackerman who drove home the tying run with his third hit of the afternoon.

Two of the first three batters reached for LC State in the ninth to bring Seamons and Updegrave to the dish. McMan induced a fly ball off the bat of Seamons but was unable to wiggle out of trouble as Updegrave followed with the walk-off knock.

Despite picking up the blown save for the Warriors, Cameron Smith (1-0) recorded the win in relief. He allowed a run on four hits and struck out three over two innings of relief.

LC starter Jace Hanson allowed two runs on four hits over 4.1 while punching out five.

McMan (0-1) suffered the loss for Bellevue. He allowed a run on four hits over 2.2 and struck out three.

Game Two: VU 3, BU 0

Dustin Schorie worked five hitless innings in his first start of the season and Jake Hiner took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning before being lifted for a reliever with one out.

Michael Downtain and Antonio Omphroy singled home runs in the top of the sixth to start the scoring.

Logan Grant broke up the no-hit bid with a two-out double in the frame but was stranded when Bryce Barnett struck out Nick Grade to end the inning.

Vanguard tacked on another run in the seventh when Tevis Payne drove in Christopher Famolaro with a sac fly.

An eighth inning Anthony Lind single accounted for Bellevue's other hit.

Gavin Wuschke struck out the side in a scoreless ninth to give the Bruins a final chance but BU went down in order to end the game.

Hiner (1-1), with his 5.1 hitless innings, earned the victory and Barnett with 3.2 innings of shutout ball picked up his first save of the year.

Easton Brinton (0-1) suffered the defeat after surrendering a pair of runs in 0.2 innings of work.

Up Next:

Following tomorrow's off-day, the Bruins wrap up play at the East-West Challenge by facing No. 19 Benedictine Mesa (2-2) on Saturday at 11 a.m.