Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
OMAHA, Neb. -- The fourth-ranked Bellevue University baseball team swept visiting Dakota State University Saturday at Westgate Field to remain undefeated in North Star Athletic Association action. The Bruins won by scores of 13-4 and 5-4 to improve to 25-5 overall and 5-0 in the NSAA. DSU dropped to 9-14 on the season and 3-3 in league play.
The two teams will complette the four-game series with a noon doubleheader on Sunday at Roddy Field in Bellevue.
Game 1: Bellevue 13, Dakota State 4
The Bruins pounded out 15 hits en route to the 13-4 win in the opener. Colton Nash and Todd Nicks both went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs to lead the BU offense. Connor Garrison finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Trevor Jones was 3-for-5 with three runs scored.
Jake Browne and Nicks both blasted homers in the victory.
After the Trojans took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI triple by Jaime Jorgensen, the Bruins exploded for six runs in the bottom of the third on on a two-run single by Garrison, an RBI single by Nash, an RBI double by Derik Bontempo, a fielder's choice, and an RBI double by Matt Evans.
Bellevue made it 7-1 in the bottom of the fifth on a solo home run over the left field fence by Browne.
DSU cut the lead to 7-4 in the top of the sixth after scoring on a two-run single by Jake Harris and and ground-out RBI by Dylan Colman.
A two-run single by Nash increased the BU lead to 9-4 in the bottom of the sixth frame.
A sacrifice fly by Bontempo and a three-run homer to left field by Nicks extended the margin to 13-4 in the bottom of the eighth.
Ben McKendall earned the win, improving to 7-0 on the season, scattering five hits, while striking out 10 and walking one in seven innings on the mound.
Brady Wauer suffered the loss, allowing 13 hits with one strikeout and one walk in 5.1 innings of work.
Game 2: Bellevue 5, Dakota State 4
Despite being outhit 12-6, the Bruins scored two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings and got out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh to pull out the dramatic 5-4 win in the nightcap.
Bontempo gave the Bruins an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly to left field that plated Jones from third.
The Trojans responded with a pair of runs in the second, scoring an an RBI single to right field by Richard Sternberg and on a one-run single to right field by Shiquing Santana.
DSU extended the lead to 3-1 in the third on an RBI triple to center field by Tony Poncia and the Trojans made it 4-1 in the top of the fifth on an RBI double by Jorgensen.
The Bruins battled back to within one run at 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth, scoring on an RBI double to right field by Ross Feeley and on a fielding error by Trojan third basemen Poncia.
BU grabbed the lead at 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth with a one-run single to center field by Evans and on and RBI double down the left-field line by Garrison.
The Trojans threatened in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with one out but Jordan Hofer grounded into a double play to end the game.
Leland Tilley earned the win, entering in relief in the sixth inning, allowing just two hits with two strikeouts and no walks, while improving to 6-1 on the season.
