OMAHA, Neb. -- Jake Lacey laced an opposite-field single to chase home Kanta Kobayashi with the game-winning run in extra innings to give the No. 5-ranked Bellevue University baseball team a double-header sweep of Briar Cliff University in the Bruins' home-opener on Saturday afternoon from John Stella Field at Brown Park.
The Bruins won the opener 9-3 and were cruising in the nightcap before settling for a dramatic 7-6 win in extras.
Bellevue improved to 6-2 on the year, while Briar Cliff saw their four-game winning streak halted, falling to 4-2 on the season.
Game One: BU 9, BCU 3
Bellevue's first three batters of the game all reached and scored as the Bruins took a 3-0 lead after an inning of play.
Eric Anderson pushed that lead to 4-0 as he singled home Alec Ackerman in the third.
Brendan Luther and Alec each went deep in the victory. Luther popped a two-run shot in the fourth to stretch the lead to 6-0 and Ackerman ripped a three-run shot in the sixth to give BU some additional breathing room.
That would be plenty of offense to back southpaw Blake Crippen (2-1), who delivered six quality innings in the victory, scattering seven hits and punching out five while allowing just a pair of runs.
Walter Hunt put Briar Cliff on the board with a towering solo shot leading off the fifth.
Quentin Evers delivered a sac fly in the sixth, and the Matthew Hmielewski crossed the plate with an unearned run in the seventh.
Teron Williams worked the seventh to secure the win.
Brett Sitzmann (1-1) took the loss for the Chargers, allowing six runs on seven hits over five innings of work.
Luther finished 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI in the win. Kobayashi, Jake Lacey, and Anderson all recorded multi-hit games as well.
Kobayashi, Luther, and Ackerman each scored three runs from the top three spots in the lineup.
Game Two: BU 7, BCU 6 (8 Innings)
Kanta Kobayashi singled up the middle with one out in the eight before swiping second base. After a strikeout, Conner Barnett worked a 2-0 count before being put on intentionally to bring Jake Lacey to bat. Lacey lined a shot to right field, allowing Kobayashi to slide in with the game-winning run.
Quentin Evers and Walter Hunter each delivered sac flies in the top of the third to give Briar Cliff the early 2-0 lead.
That lead, however, would be short-lived as Bellevue responded with a four-run home half of the inning. CJ Townsend got things started with a solo home run before Jake Lacey recorded his first RBI of the game, chasing in Kobayashi with a ground ball to second. Run-scoring singles from Mathieu Sirois and Tradd Richardson put the Bruins in front, 4-2.
Sirois extended the BU lead with a two-run moon shot in the fifth, and the Bruins looked to be cruising to another win.
Kyler Steinborn (1-1) emerged from the Charger bullpen to provide 3.1 innings of solid relief. He allowed just one runs on four hits, striking out five against two walks.
Cam Riemer reached on a two-out error in the sixth that allowed a pair of unearned runs to come home as the Chargers halved the Bruin lead.
In the seventh, Jake Allen singled home pinch-runner Brayden Artzer ahead of Devon Farrell plating Jake Chronic with a sac fly to tie the game of closer Parker McMan. Jared Eifler came on with two outs in the inning and, after hitting the first batter he faced, avoided further damage by inducing a fielder's choice off the bat of Riemer.
Ryan Riddle was tagged for six runs over 4.1 innings of work. He struck out four and issued three walks while surrendering six hits.
Easton Brinton minimized damage, allowing two runs despite seven hits and three walks over four innings of work.
Eifler (1-0) recorded the victory with 1.1 innings of one-hit ball.
Kobayashi and Sirois finished with a pair of hits apiece as eight different Bruins hit safely in the game.
Up Next:
With a series victory already in hand, Bellevue will go for the three-game sweep of Briar Cliff tomorrow at noon.
