No. 22 Bellevue sweeps USAO in home-opening doubleheader

OMAHA, Neb. — No. 22 Bellevue University swept its home-opening, non-conference doubleheader Friday at John Stella Field at Brown Park, edging the University of Science & Arts (Okla.) 6-4 in Game 1 before completing the sweep with a 9-4 win in Game 2.

The Bruins improved to 4-2 on the season, while the Drovers fell to 2-5.

Bellevue scored 15 runs on 18 hits and hit four home runs on the day. Anthony Lind homered twice in the nightcap, while Ayden Makarus went deep in the opener and Mason Spellecy added a solo shot in Game 2. On the mound, Kenji Miller earned the Game 1 win, and Brody Burnette picked up the save. Kody Butt logged 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to earn the Game 2 victory.

Top Performers

Bellevue University

• Anthony Lind: 3-for-8, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 HR, 2B
• Ayden Makarus: 3-for-7, 3 R, 2 RBI, HR
• Nick Gravel: 3-for-5, 3 R, RBI
• Carter Claerhout: 3-for-8, R, RBI, 2B
• Mason Spellecy: 2-for-5, R, 3 RBI, HR

University of Science & Arts (Okla.)

• Henry Garcia: 2 HR (one in each game)
• Corey Morro: HR, 2 RBI (Game 1)
• Derrick Morillo: HR, 2 RBI (Game 2)

Inside the Numbers

• Bellevue: 15 runs, 18 hits
• Home runs: USAO 5, Bellevue 4 (nine total)
• Bellevue extra-base hits: 6 (4 HR, 2 2B)

Game 1: Bellevue University 6, University of Science & Arts (Okla.) 4

How It Happened

USAO struck first in the top of the first on Corey Morro's one-out solo home run to left-center for a 1-0 lead. The Drovers made it 2-0 in the second when Blake King hit a two-out solo homer to left.

Bellevue answered with four runs in the bottom of the second to move in front 4-2. Nick Gravel's RBI single scored Makarus to cut it to 2-1, and Spellecy followed with a sacrifice bunt to tie it 2-2. Jaylan Ruffin then dropped down a two-out RBI bunt single to give BU a 3-2 lead, and Ruffin later scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-2.

USAO pulled within 4-3 in the third on Morro's RBI groundout, but Makarus answered in the bottom half with a solo homer to center to extend the Bruins' lead to 5-3.

Bellevue added insurance in the fourth when Lind doubled to left-center with two outs to drive in Gravel for a 6-3 advantage. Garcia led off the sixth with a solo home run to cut it to 6-4, but Burnette worked out of trouble to close it out.

Bellevue pitching: Kenji Miller (W) — 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. Brody Burnette (SV) — 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R.
USAO pitching: Tyson Noel (L) — 4.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER.

Game 2: Bellevue University 9, University of Science & Arts (Okla.) 4

How It Happened

USAO scored twice in the first to take a 2-0 lead, bringing home runs on RBI singles by Alfonso Camacho and Derrick Morillo.

Bellevue answered with single runs in the second and third to tie it 2-2. Spellecy's two-out RBI single in the second cut it to 2-1, and Lind led off the third with a solo home run to even the score, 2-2.

The Drovers regained the lead in the fifth on back-to-back solo home runs by Henry Garcia and Morillo to go up 4-2. The Bruins responded with three runs in the bottom half to take a 5-4 lead. Spellecy led off with a solo homer to make it 4-3, Claerhout's RBI single tied it 4-4, and Oak Held stole home later in the inning to put BU in front 5-4.

Bellevue broke it open with three runs in the seventh to extend the lead to 8-4. Makarus' RBI single made it 6-4, Derrick Holmes drew a bases-loaded walk to push it to 7-4, and a wild pitch brought home another run for an 8-4 advantage.

Lind added insurance in the eighth with his second home run of the game, a solo shot to left that made it 9-4.

Bellevue pitching: Brayden Andersen — 4.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K. Kody Butt (W) — 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K. Cannon Close — 1.0 IP, 0 R.
USAO pitching: Brian Ereu (L) — 6.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K.

Up Next

The two teams will conclude the three-game series tomorrow (Feb. 14) with a single 9-inning game beginning at noon at John Stella Field at Brown Park.