BARTLESVILLE, Okla. -- The 16th-ranked Bellevue University baseball team built an eight run lead but couldn't hold on late, falling to Oklahoma Wesleyan University 14-11 in the first of two Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference championship games. Bellevue falls to 43-13 with the loss while the win moves Oklahoma Wesleyan to 46-11 on the season.
Bellevue struck early and often scoring three runs in the first and five in the second inning to stake starter Sean McManus to an 8-0 lead. The Eagles scored a run in the second but the Bruins responded with a run of their own in the third to reclaim an eight run lead.
The bottom of the fourth saw Oklahoma Wesleyan begin chipping away at the sizable BU lead with a pair of runs. The Eagles added another run in the fifth in three more in the sixth after Bellevue had stretched their lead to 11-4.
BU still held a six run lead into the bottom of the eighth but Oklahoma Wesleyan took their first, and only, lead of the game courtesy of six hits and three walks in the inning. The Eagles struck six times off of three Bellevue pitchers to go ahead 14-11.
Bellevue put a runner on base in the ninth but were unable to push any runs across, falling to the home-standing Eagles.
Trevor Jones (4-5, 3 runs, 2 RBI), Ross Feeley (3-5, 3 runs, RBI), and Osvaldo Gonzalez (3-5, 2 runs, 6 RBI) led the BU offensive attack that knocked out 13 hits on the day.
Leland Tilley (2-2) took the loss in relief for Bellevue while Cody Stafford (2-0) picked up the win in relief for Oklahoma Wesleyan.
The decisive game will take place tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. Oklahoma Wesleyan can clinch a spot in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round with a victory while Bellevue has already secured a bid to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round by hosting.
