BABSON PARK, Fla. -- Right-hander Ben McKendall hurled a two-hit shutout to power the No. 12 Bellevue University baseball team to a 4-0 victory over Webber International in game one of a non-conference double-header on Saturday afternoon.
McKendall (4-0, 0.58) was splendid in notching his second shutout of the year. He struck out eight and walked two to pick up the win.
The Bruins struck first in the third. Todd Nicks (2-3, RBI, run) led off the inning with a single and advanced to second two batters later on a base hit by Elijah Dickerson (2-3, 2 RBI, run). After a walk by Trevor Jones (1-3) loaded the bases, Ross Feeley came through with a sac fly to put BU on the board.
BU added two more in the fifth. Gabriel De La Rosa (1-2, run) recorded a one-out single and stole second before Dickerson came to the plate and delivered both himself and De La Rosa with a two-run home run, his first of the season.
An insurance run for Bellevue came in the sixth, courtesy of an RBI-double from Nicks. Colton Nash (3-3) led off the inning with a single which was followed by a base knock from Derik Bontempo (1-3) to put two on with no outs. Following an out, Nicks doubled to left to chase home a run to extend the Bruin lead to 4-0 and provide the final margin.
Sjaghbar Martis and Jake Frisosky both had hits for Webber International. Taylor Laynor took the loss on the bump for the Warriors allowing four runs on 10 hits in 5.1 innings.
The two sides won't have much time to think about this one as game two of the double-header starts a in under a half hour.