Bruins bounce back, down DSU 24-6 to reach Championship
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
1 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 22 | 1 |
|
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1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 2 |
DICKINSON, N.D. -- Xavier Lerma launched three home runs to power the No. 2-ranked and top-seeded Bellevue University baseball team past fourth-seeded Dakota State University 24-6 on Saturday afternoon to reach their eighth-straight conference championship game.
Following their first loss in nearly two months, BU ups their overall record to 46-4 while the Trojans finish their season with a 21-30-1 overall record.
Bellevue 24, Dakota State 6
Bellevue launched eight home runs, including three from Xavier Lerma and two from Oak Held, as the Bruins put up 24 runs on 22 hits. Carter Claerhout, Anthony Lind, and Jaylan Ruffin also went yard for BU.
Held's solo home run, his first of the game, opened the scoring in the top of the first as Bellevue and the Trojans traded first inning runs.
Xavier Lerma jumped started both a five-run second and eight-run third with solo blasts and added a three-run shot later in the third to cap the frame as the Bruins built a 14-1 lead.
DSU got a pair of runs back in the third courtesy of a two-run double from Cameron DeMaria and two more in the fourth thanks to solo home runs from Aidan Marsh and Connor Raney.
However, any thoughts from Dakota State of a miracle comeback were quashed in the fifth. Claerhout led off the frame with his NAIA-leading 26th home run of the year as the Bruins plated five more runs to further the rout.
Kody Butt (7-1) struck out 10 across six innings to earn the win.
Kellan Johns (4-3) took the loss, allowing six runs in two innings on four hits and a pair of walks.
Top Performers
Bellevue University
Xavier Lerma: 4-6, 3 HR (19), 6 RBI, 5 runs
Ayden Makarus: 4-6, 2 doubles, 4 runs
Oak Held: 2-5, 2 HR (13), 4 RBI, 2 runs
Carter Claerhout: 2-3, solo HR (26), 2 runs, 2 walks
Kody Butt: Win (7-1), 6 IP, 10 SO, 4 BB, 6 Runs, 7 Hits
Dakota State University
Cameron DeMaria: 3-4, double, HR (12), 4 RBI
Cameron Haller: 2-3, walk
Connor Raney: 1-4, solo HR (11)
Aidan Marsh: 1-3, solo HR (11)
Up Next:
Bellevue meets second-seed Valley City State University tomorrow for the Frontier Conference Championship at noon Central (11 a.m. Mountain). The Bruins will need to defeat VCSU twice to claim the title while the Vikings need to win just once.