Bellevue finishes off four-game weekend sweep
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
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0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 2 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The No. 4-ranked Bellevue University baseball team wrapped up a perfect 4-0 conference weekend on Sunday afternoon with Frontier Conference victories over Bismarck State College and Valley City State University at the Sanford Sports Complex.
Bellevue improves to 22-3 on the year and 4-0 in Frontier Conference play. The Bruins rallied for a 3-2 win over Bismarck State in the opener dropping the Mystics to 13-10 overall and 1-3 in the Frontier Conference. BU struck first and pulled away late in an 12-3 win over VCSU in the nightcap as the Vikings fell to 14-11 on the year and 1-3 in league action.
Bellevue 3, Bismarck State 2
After allowing a pair of first inning runs, Reid Madariaga (1-0) settled in to give Bellevue another strong starting performance. He scattered six hits over 5.2 innings of work to record his first win as a Bruin, striking out seven and issuing four walks on the day.
Back-to-back one-out singles from Cole Shirley and Eric Reilling gave the Mystics an early 2-0 lead. Madariaga retired the BSC leadoff batter but four-straight Bismarck hitters reach with the consecutive knocks drawing first blood.
Nick Gravel began a two-out rally in the third with an opposite field knock. Oak Held followed with a double down the line before Carter Claerhout singled back up the middle to chase both Bruins home to tie the game.
That's where things stayed until the bottom of the fifth where Jaylan Ruffin led off the frame with a single to right center. A sac bunt advanced him to second and two batters later Claerhout drew an intentional walk. With two out, Ruffin stole third and came around to score when the throw sailed away from the bag to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead.
After Madariaga walked the bases loaded – including an intentional walk – Brody Burnette came on to record the final four outs for his 10th save of the season, retiring all four batters he faced.
Parker Henrich (3-1) suffered the loss for Bismarck State, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits in four innings of work. He struck out five Bruins and walked two.
Bellevue 12, Valley City 3
Kody Butt (4-1) worked six innings without allowing an earned run to deliver a quality start. The junior southpaw struck out a pair and issued three walks while scattering just four hits.
Nick Gravel put the Bruins on the board first with a squeeze play to score Mason Spellecy in the third. Jaylan Ruffin scored on an error later in the frame to double the lead to 2-0.
BU again doubled their advantage an inning later on an RBI-single from Spellecy and another VCSU defensive miscue.
The Vikings scored all three of their runs in the fourth, unearned courtesy of _ BU errors, to cut the deficit to a run.
Xavier Lerma's seventh home run in the top of the fifth jump-started a four-run inning as the Bruins lead grew to 8-3 before they tacked on three more in the sixth and another in the seventh for a 12-3 advantage.
Heath Hachkowski worked around a one-out walk as he struck out a pair while tossing a scoreless seventh to finish off the victory.
Easton Francis (1-1) allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits while striking out five and walking three over three innings of work.
Top Performers
Bellevue University
Reid Madariaga: Win (1-0), 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 7 SO, 4 BB
Kody Butt: Win (4-1), 6 IP, 0 ER (3 Runs), 4 H, 2 SO, 3 BB
Carter Claerhout: 3-4, triple, 2 RBI, run scored, 3 walks (2 IBB)
Jaylan Ruffin: 3-5, double, 2 RBI, 4 runs scored
Xavier Lerma: 2-5, HR (7), 2 RBI, run scored
Bismarck State College
Parker Henrich: Loss (3-1), 4 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, 5 SO, 3 BB
Eric Reilling: 2-3, RBI
Cole Shirley: 1-4, RBI
Bryson Mohs: 1-2, double
Valley City State University
Cody Wielgosh: 1-1, RBI, 3 walks
Brady Papineau: 1-3, RBI
Anthony Madsen: 1-2, run scored
Up Next:
Bellevue returns home on Tuesday, Mar. 24 when they welcome Midland University (11-15) to the brand new field at the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex. The first-ever baseball game from the complex is scheduled for a 3 p.m. first pitch.