Bruins force, prevail in "If" game to win Frontier Championship

DICKINSON, N.D. -- After rallying from a 6-5 deficit to force the "If Necessary" game with a 10-7, the No 2-ranked and top-seeded Bellevue University baseball team defeated Valley City State University 16-5 in the winner-take-all final game to claim the program's fifth-straight conference tournament championship.

With the victories, BU (48-4) secures the Frontier Conference's automatic bid to the 2026 NAIA National Tournament Opening Round which they will be hosting at the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex, Monday-Thursday, May 11-14. VCSU finished their season at 26-24-1 overall.

Game One: Bellevue 10, Valley City 7

Trailing 6-5 in the seventh, Bellevue plated three runs to regain the lead for the first time since the third inning. Two runs scored on an error in Oak Held's at-bat and Carter Claerhout singled home Held a batter later for a 8-6 BU lead.

Claerhout belted a two-run home run in the ninth for a four-run lead before the Bruins turned the ball over to closer Brody Burnette. Devin Minney reached on an infield single before coming home on a two-out double from Alexis Velasco but Burnette induced a pop up to end the threat and the game.

Velasco opened the scoring in the first with a ground ball to chase in Connor Hoyt.

The advantage as short-lived as Mason Spellecy's second inning grand slam put the Bruins in front. An inning later, Xavier Lerma doubled home Ayden Makarus for a 5-1 BU advantage.

VCSU responded with a five-run third to go back in front by a run but neither team scored again until the seventh,

Reid Madariaga (6-0) worked eight innings, allowing six runs on eight hits while striking out seven against one walk, to earn the win.

Takao Cookson (6-5) took the loss for the Vikings, being charged with allowing all 10 runs though just five were earned on nine hits. He struck out four and walked two.

Game Two: Bellevue 16, Valley City 5

Anthony Lind staked BU to a 1-0 lead with an RBI-double in the second and singled home another run in the fourth.

Kaden Rozdeba delivered a sac fly in the fifth to get the Vikings on the board but Bellevue answered with a four-run home half. Ayden Makarus and Xavier Lerma singled home runs and Mason Spellecy capped the scoring with a two-run knock.

Hunter Logan and Brady Papineau singled home runs in the sixth and Connor Hoyt chased in another in the seventh before a ground ball from Alexis Velasco narrowed the Bruin lead to 6-5.

Bellevue posted a seven-run bottom of the seventh to take full control of the game. Nick Gravel singled in a run and Carter Claerhout chased in two more with a double in the eighth to account for the final tally.

Cannon Close (4-0) delivered a quality start for the Bruins, allowing just three runs (one earned) on six hits over six innings. He struck out four and walked one.

Brody Burnette matched the program single season and career records with his 14^th save of the season. He worked 2.2 innings of one-hit relief after coming on in a 6-4 game in the seventh. After an inherited runner scored, he dialed in and nailed down the victory.

Connor Martin (9-4) struck out six against a pair of walks while allowing six runs on 12 hits in 5.2 to take the loss.

Top Performers:

Bellevue University:

Anthony Lind: 6-7, double, 3 RBI, 4 runs
Mason Spellecy, 4-7, HR (8), 6 RBI, 3 runs
Xavier Lerma: 4-8, double, 3 RBI, run
Carter Claerhout: 4-10, double, HR (27), 7 RBI
Cannon Close: Win (4-0), 6 IP, 4 SO, 1 BB, 3 Runs (1 ER), 6 Hits
Brody Burnette: Save (14) ties program single season and career records, 4 SO, 3.2 IP

Valley City State University:

Connor Hoyt: 4-9, double, RBI, 2 run
Devin Minney: 3-7, 3 runs
Evan Gonzalez: 3-8, double
Alexis Velasco: 3-9, 2 doubles, 5 RBI, 2 runs

All-Tournament Team Representatives

RHP Cannon Close
LHP Kenji Miller
C Xavier Lerma
1B Carter Claerhout
SS Mason Spellecy
LF Ayden Makarus