OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- MidAmerica Nazarene University plated 11 runs in the fourth and fifth innings to propel the Pioneers to a 15-10 win over the No. 12-ranked Bellevue University baseball team Saturday afternoon at Jim Wade Stadium.
The loss was the first of the season for the Bruins, dropping BU to 1-1 overall. MNU improved to 3-0 on the year.
Ross Feeley paced the BU offense, driving in four runs with a pair of doubles.
The Bruins took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second, scoring on a Pioneer throwing error by second baseman Jason Jones.
MNU responded in the bottom half of the second, plating two runs on a two-run double down the left field line by Kelvin Perez.
Bellevue erupted for seven runs in the top of the third, highlighted by a three-run double by Feeley, an RBI single by Jake Browne, and a pair of bases-loaded walks to grab an 8-2 advantage.
The Pioneers fought back in the bottom of the fourth, taking a 9-8 lead after scoring seven runs, sparked by a three-run homer by Perez, a solo homer by Nelson Santiago, and a two-run triple by Jordan Eckley. Santiago also had an RBI single in the inning as 10 Pioneers batted in the frame.
MNU added four more runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend the advantage to 13-8. Perez drove in his sixth run of the game with an RBI double to left center. The Pioneers also scored on a two-run single by Lenzie Foley and a one-run single to center by Logan Tills.
The Bruins got a run back in the top of the sixth on an RBI single to left field by Colton Nash to cut the deficit to four runs at 13-9.
The Pioneers extended the advantage to 15-9 in the bottom of the sixth, scoring off a wild pitch and on an RBI single to right field by Christian Quinones.
Feeley drove in Trevor Jones with a double down the left field line in the top of the seventh to make the final, 15-10.
Todd Nicks (0-1) suffered the loss, giving up eight runs on eight hits with two strikeouts in 3.2 innings on the mound. Blake Robberson earned the win, allowing just three hits and one run with one strikeout in 2.1 innings of work.
The Bruins battle fifth-ranked Oklahoma City University later today at 5 p.m. in BU's final contest of its opening weekend.
