Bruins fall at Morningside in final non-conference game

SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- Three Bruins recorded multi-hit games but the No. 24-ranked Bellevue University baseball team fell to Morningside University 7-6 on Monday afternoon in non-conference action.

The win extended the Mustangs' (29-12-1) win streak to four games while the Bruins (32-13) saw their win streak halted at three games.

Morningside struck first with a run in the bottom of the first. Michael Snyder singled home Ryan Kiolbassa who had walked leading off the frame.

The Bruins answered with a four-run second inning. Elijah Tanner drove in Ayden Makarus with a ground out before Anthony Lind and Scott Hansen each doubled in runs and Steven Elsner singled home Hansen for a 4-1 BU lead.

Neither team scored again until the Mustangs got a two-out single from Jaxon Bunkers to chase home a run in the fourth.

An inning later, Morningside put up a four-run frame of their own. A run-scoring groundout from Snyder and an RBI-single by Luke Blackmon tied the game before Sam Wilt bopped a two-run homer to give the hosts the lead.

Snyder knocked in a run in the sixth to push the Morningside lead to 7-4.

The Bruins clawed back a pair in the eighth. Makarus and Balas Buckmaster led off the inning with consecutive walks. Two wild pitches brought home Makarus and a ground ball from Tanner scored Buckmaster to make it a one-run game.

Bellevue threatened for more in the ninth, getting a leadoff double from Hansen who reached third on a passed ball. After back-to-back strikeouts, Jake Lacey put a charge into the ball, hitting it to the center field fence where Connor Woods made the grab for Morningside.

BU starter Kody Butt worked 3.2 innings before departing with the lead. Asantay Wilson (1-1) took the loss for the Bruins, allowing four runs in an inning of relief work.

Kade Yasui (2-2) earned the win with three innings of relief work. Owen Hess collected his first save with a scoreless ninth inning.

Hansen finished 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles while Buckmaster and Lind each recorded a pair of hits and a double apiece.

Bellevue returns home this weekend for a four-game North Star Athletic Association series against the University of Jamestown (32-12/11-5 NSAA) to close out the regular season. BU and the Jimmies will play double-headers on Friday and Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and noon, respectively.