Box Score
World Series Bracket
LEWISTON, Idaho -- After finding themselves in an early five-run hole, the Bellevue University baseball team scored 11-straight runs to defeat Faulkner University 11-8 in an elimination game at Lewis-Clark State College's Harris Field on Day Two of the 2019 Avista NAIA World Series.
Records:
#21 Bellevue: 47-15
#3 Faulkner: 49-12
Recap: Bellevue 11, Faulkner 8
Faulkner jumped on the board early with a five-run second inning to chase BU starter Jarrett Poh. Bellevue went to their bullpen early, summoning Derek Browne in relief in the top of the second. Browne (6-1) worked 4.2 innings of six-hit relief, allowing just one run and striking out four to keep Bellevue on top.
Despite falling behind early, the Bruins responded in the home half of the inning by putting a six-spot on the board. Following a leadoff double by Riley Baasch, Austin Alexander homered to put the Bruins on the board. Bellevue then loaded the bases and JT Patterson walked to bring home a run before Cody Banks chased in another on a fielder's choice. A walk to Tommy Hansen brought Baasch back to the plate and he delivered a two-run single to right-center to give Bellevue a 6-5 lead.
Bellevue added five two-out runs to their lead in the third inning. Patterson began a run of four-straight Bruin hits with a two-run single before Hansen scored Banks with an RBI-double and Baasch drove in two more with a single to right for an 11-5 Bruin lead.
The Bruins had a chance to pile on the bottom of the fourth when they loaded the bases with no outs but were unable to capitalize on the opportunity.
Faulkner loaded bases with one out in the top of the sixth but were unable to score when Hagen Holmstead hit into a double play to end the frame.
The Eagles finally got a run back in the seventh to cut the deficit to 11-6 and finally chase Browne from the game. For the second-straight inning, Faulkner had the bases loaded with just one out but a line drive double play off the bat of Te'Kwaan Whyte allowed the Bruins to escape further damage.
BU again found themselves in a bit of a jam with Faulkner getting a pair of runners on base with just one out but reliever Mitch Savine induced a 6-4-3 double play to keep Bellevue ahead.
Brandon Desjardins earned the save, his fourth of the year, after entering in the ninth inning with the bases loaded and no outs. Faulkner scored two runs in the ninth but Desjardins struck out Max Guzman and got Holmstead to fly out to preserve the BU win.
Bruin pitching stranded 15 Faulkner runners on base in the game, including eight from the sixth inning on.
Antonio Frias (9-2) took the loss for the Eagles as he was tagged for six runs on five hits and five walks in just 1.2 innings.
Up Next:
Bellevue advances to play another elimination game on Monday, May 27 against the loser of the 2-10 game between No. 5-ranked Science & Arts and (RV) Lewis-Clark State. First pitch for that game is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
Faulkner is eliminated from the Avista NAIA World Series and sees their season end with a final record of 49-12 following their seventh-consecutive trip to the World Series.
