#7 Webber halts BU streak in series opener

BABSON PARK, Fla. -- All-American Blayne Huter struck out eight over five innings to pitch No. 7 Webber International University to a 5-1 victory over the Bellevue University baseball team on Thursday afternoon in the first game of a three-game non-conference series.

The Warriors improve to 18-2 with their ninth-straight win while Bellevue drops to 7-7 as they saw their win streak halted at five games.

Huter struck out the first two batters of the game but a two-out walk and back-to-back singles saw BU take an early lead with Anthony Lind chasing home courtesy runner Jaylan Ruffin.

Bruin starter Parker McMan worked a 1-2-3 first and Bellevue threatened to add on in the second before Logan Grant lined out to end the inning leaving the bases loaded. Bellevue left five runners on base through the first two innings and 10 in the game.

Webber tied the game on a groundout from Nate Cannizzaro and one batter later went ahead on Steven Nitch's RBI-single.

Jalen Martinez doubled the Warrior advantage in the third with a sac fly and, one inning later, Deven Tedders singled home Gabriel Cruz as Webber took a 4-1 lead after four.

Bellevue managed base runners in each of the next four innings but were unable to cut into the deficit and Webber tacked on an insurance run in the eighth courtesy of a sac fly from C Carroll.

McMan (1-1) went 5.1 for the Bruins on the hill, allowing four runs on eight hits and striking out a pair.

Huter (6-0) struck out eight over five while limiting BU to one run on five hits to earn the victory.

Jacob Hardy struck out a pair in three innings of three-hit relief and Noah Palmese worked around a two-out error in the ninth to nail down the WIU victory.

Scott Hansen finished 2-for-4 and CJ Townsend produced the lone extra base hit, a second inning double, for the Bruins.

The Bruins and Warriors play a double-header tomorrow beginning at noon from Brad Niethammer Field to wrap-up their three-game set.