OMAHA, Neb. -- Four pitchers combined to hold a very good Mustang offense to two runs as the No. 4 Bellevue University baseball team defeated (RV) Morningside College, 3-2, in non-conference action on Tuesday afternoon at Westgate Field.
With the win Bellevue improves to 28-5 while Morningside drops to 27-7 with the loss.
The Mustangs struck first in the second inning with a run off of Bruin starter Todd Nicks. A one out walk to Joe Genoways came around to score on a two-out single to left center by Jacob Lamoreux.
Morningside starter Lucas Henning cruised through the first four innings without allowing a hit to the potent Bruin offense. BU broke through behind some well-executed small ball in a three-run fifth inning. Connor Garrison opened the BU scoring on a passed ball before Nicks put down a squeeze to score the speedy Joe Moran from third. Bellevue concluded their scoring when Colton Nash was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to chase in the eventual game-winning run.
Henning (4-1) wound up the losing pitcher after being charged with three runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks.
Morningside got a run back in the top of the sixth to pull within a run at 3-2. David Foley delivered a one-out RBI-single to left to plate Genoways.
Nicks, making a return from injury did not factor in the decision, but did his job to keep the Mustang offense in check. In three innings he allowed a run on four hits and struck out four.
Kameron Miner (2-0, 3.95) picked up the victory with two scoreless innings of relief. Kevin Rodriguez followed with three strong innings allowing a run on two hits with a pair of strikeouts. Leland Tilley closed out the game with his sixth save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
The Bruins are back in action when they travel to La Crosse, Wis. for a four-game conference set against Viterbo University. Games start at 1 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.
