Bruin offense erupts for 32 runs in double header sweep of VCSU

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Bruin hitters combined for 32 hits and seven home runs on the afternoon as the No. 4-ranked Bellevue University baseball team rolled to a Frontier Conference double header sweep of Valley City State University on Saturday afternoon at the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex.

The Bruins (25-3, 6-0) remained perfect in conference play, extending their win streak to 13 games while Valley City (14-13, 1-5) struggled to find answers on the mound.

Game One: Bellevue 20, VCSU 4

Bellevue used a 14-run fifth inning, quickly transforming a tight pitcher's duel into a lopsided affair, as the Bruins pushed past Valley City 20-4.

The game was tied 3-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth before Bellevue's offense ignited. The Bruins utilized a disciplined approach and opportunistic hitting to break the game open:

Xavier Lerma and Anthony Lind drew bases-loaded RBIs to regain the lead. Jaylan Ruffin and Carter Claerhout delivered a two-run single and double, respectively, to extend the margin. The power surge followed, with Lerma and Ruffin both launching two-run home runs later in the frame. By the time the third out was recorded, Bellevue had turned a tie game into a 17-3 advantage.

Bellevue's lineup featured contributions from nearly every spot in the order. Ruffin and Claerhout led the charge with the former going 4-for-4 with a home run and four RBI as the latter finished 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and 3 RBIs.

Lind drove in 4 runs despite having only one official hit, contributing via a two-run squeeze bunt and a hit-by-pitch. Nolan Walther added late-inning fireworks with a pinch-hit three-run home run in the sixth.

On the mound, Kenji Miller earned the win (6-1), striking out 10 batters over six innings while allowing three runs on five hits.

The Vikings finally showed signs of life in the fifth inning when Anthony Madsen laced a two-run double down the third-base line to tie the game at 3-3. Nick Senn put VCSU on the board as he contributed an RBI single earlier in the frame.

Connor Martin (4-3) took the loss, charged with eight earned runs over 4.1 innings of work. VCSU pitching staff struggled with command, issuing 11 total walks and hitting two batters throughout the contest.

Game Two: Bellevue 12, VCSU 2 (7 innings)

Bellevue combined a relentless 19-hit attack with three home runs to defeat Valley City State 12-2 on Saturday, completing a dominant Frontier Conference doubleheader sweep.

After a quiet first inning, Nick Gravel put the Bruins on the board with an RBI-single in the second.

The Bellevue bats ignited in the third, sending the game out of reach with a seven-run frame. Carter Claerhout opened the scoring in the inning with a solo home run to right-center. Xavier Lerma followed shortly after with a two-run blast to right field, scoring Jackson Polk. Gravel capped the rally with a two-run single to left, driving in Anthony Lind and Mason Spellecy to push the lead to 8-0.

Bellevue starter Reid Madariaga (2-0) delivered a commanding performance on the mound. Madariaga went the distance in the run-rule shortened seven-inning contest, striking out nine Vikings and allowing just two runs on five hits with only one walk.

The Bruin defense was equally sharp, playing error-free baseball and turning a critical double play in the fifth inning to stymie a potential VCSU comeback attempt.

Valley City struggled to keep pace but found a spark in the fourth inning when Nick Senn launched a solo home run to center field. The Vikings added their final run in the fifth when Brady Papineau scored on a double play ball off the bat of Diesel Goya.

Bellevue's lineup featured six multi-hit performances with Gravel (4-5 with a double and 3 RBIs) leading the way. Spellecy finished 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and scored three runs while Claerhout and Dylan Holmes each finished 3-for-4 with a home run.

Takao Cookson (4-3) took the loss for Valley City State, surrendering eight earned runs on 13 hits in three innings of work, as the Vikings again struggled to find answers to BU's lineup.

Top Performers:

Bellevue University

Jaylan Ruffin: 4-5, double, HR (1), 4 RBI, 4 runs scored
Dylan Holmes: 4-5, double, HR (7), 4 RBI, 4 runs scored
Carter Claerhout: 6-8, double, 2 HR (11), 5 RBI, 4 runs scored
Nick Gravel: 4-7, double, 4 RBI, run scored
Xavier Lerma: 2-6, 2 HR (9), 5 RBI, 2 runs scored
Kenji Miller: Win (6-1), 6 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 10 SO, 2 BB
Reid Madariaga: Win (2-0), 2 ER, 5 Hits, 9 SO, 1 BB

Valley City State University

Nick Senn: 2-4, HR (3), 2 RBI, run scored
Brady Papineau: 2-6, run scored
Easton Francis: 1-1, pinch-hit single

Up Next:

The Bruins and Vikings wrap up the four-game set tomorrow with another double header beginning at noon from the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex.