Bruins, Pioneers split Thursday twin-bill

OLATHE, Kan. -- The Bellevue University baseball team split a double-header with (RV) MidAmerica Nazarene University on Thursday afternoon in a non-conference action. Bellevue won the opener 1-0 before MNU prevailed 11-8 in the nightcap.

BU moves to 9-9 on the year and have now won seven of their last 10. MNU saw their seven-game win streak snapped and now stand at 12-5.

Game One: BU 1, MNU 0

Parked McMan (2-1) struck out nine in a complete game, six-hit shutout and Logan Grant drove in the game's lone run with a fifth inning sac fly.

Luis Lopez (3-2) was the tough-luck loser for the Pioneers. He went the distance on the hill, striking out eight and scattering five hits and just the one run.

Lopez did not allow a hit until the fourth inning when Grant and Ayden Makarus singled and Jake Lacey drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Lopez escaped damage when he induced a comebacker off the bat of Elijah Tanner to end the inning.

CJ Townsend led off the fifth reaching on a wild pitch. Consecutive singles from Rafael Nakandakari and Scott Hansen loaded the bases with no outs before Grant drove in the game's first run with a line drive to right, chasing home Townsend. BU threatened for more, with runners on second and third by a fly ball from Makarus ended the inning.

McMan retired the final seven hitters he faced to earn the win. MNU had just two runners reach third base in the game.

Brentt Olmo finished 3- 4 with a double for MNU while the rest of the Pioneer lineup combined to go just 2-23.

Steven Elsner accounted for the other BU hit.

Game Two: MNU 11, BU 8

Kaden Owens hit a walk-off grand slam as MidAmerica Nazarene rallied from an 8-7 deficit in the bottom of the ninth.

Bellevue blasted four home runs in the loss. Steven Elsner went deep twice pushing his team-leading total to seven, Logan Grant launched his fourth of the year while Elijah Tanner and Jake Lacey each belted their first of the season.

MNU jumped on the board first with a four-run second capped by a two-run home run from Brentt Olmo.

Elsner halved the lead with a two-run shot in the third but Willy Borquez singled home a run in the bottom half for MNU.

Another Elsner long ball in the fifth against made it a two-run game but against Borquez responded with an RBI-triple.

Two-run blasts from Tanner and Grant in the sixth and seventh, respectively, put BU in front 7-6.

Sean Maple singled home the tying run in the seventh and the score remained 7-7 into the ninth.

Lacey broke the deadlock with a two-out solo shot.

A single, double, and intentional walk in the bottom of the ninth loaded the bases for Owens who deposited his fourth of the year over the right field fence for the walk-off victory.

Kenji Miller got the nod on the bump for the Bruins. He worked five innings allowing six runs on nine hits. Adam Gray allowed two runs on three hits in four innings for the Pioneers. Each starter struck out three, though neither factored in the decision.

Reece Holland (2-0) picked up the win in relief for MNU, allowing three runs on three hits in three innings.

Cannon Close (0-1) took the loss for BU, allowing five runs on six hits in three innings out of the 'pen.

Up Next:

The Bruins and Pioneers play the rubber game of their series tomorrow from Robbie Jones Field at Dixon Stadium. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.