BABSON PARK, Fla. -- Todd Nicks rebounded from a shaky first inning that saw Webber International score three runs to keep his team in the game long enough for the No. 12 Bellevue University offense to come to life and pick up a 4-3 victory over the Warriors to complete a non-conference double-header sweep on Saturday afternoon.
Their third-straight win moves Bellevue to 10-2 on the season while Webber International drops to 12-8 with the loss.
The Warriors struck first in the opening frame .A leadoff walk to Lenin Sanchez opened the door to a three-run inning. A base hit from Ramon Sanchez put runners on the corner for Sjaghbar Martis who came through with a run-scoring groundout. The next batter up, Connor Clayton, then drilled a two-run homer to put the home side up 3-0.
That lead would last for just an inning, however, as Bellevue came roaring back. Consecutive singles to open the third by Trevor Jones (4-4, run), Ross Feeley (2-4, run), and Matt Evans (1-4, RBI, run) got the Bruins on the board with no outs and runners on first and second. Colton Nash (1-4, 2 RBI, run) followed up with a two-run double to left center to score Feeley and Evans. After a couple of outs it looked like WIU would escape without trailing but Gabriel De La Rosa (1-3, RBI) had other ideas, singling through the left side to put the Bruins ahead 4-3.
Nicks (2-1) earned the victory on the hill, throwing six innings and striking out eight. He allowed three runs on a pair of hits and four walks. Leland Tilley (3 Saves, 1.42) worked a 1-2-3 ninth to record the save and preserve the win.
Derrick Pezon was charged with the loss for the Warriors. He surrendered four runs (all earned) on seven hits and a pair of walks in three innings of work. The WIU bullpen combined for four innings of three-hit relief.
Bellevue returns to the diamond tomorrow with a game against Cumberland (Tenn.) to be played at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla. Game time is set for 7 p.m. locally (6 p.m. central time).
