BABSON PARK, Fla. -- Colton Nash and Derik Bontempo drove in sixth inning runs to break a scoreless tie and lead the No. 12 Bellevue University baseball team to a 2-0 victory over Thomas University in the first game of the Warner Classic.
The Bruins improve to 5-1 on their Sunshine State tour and 13-3 overall with the victory while Thomas dips to 7-16 on the year following their seventh loss in their past eight games.
Todd Nicks (3-1, 4.57) logged six strong innings on the mound where he allowed just four hits and struck out three batters before giving way to the bullpen.
After five and a half innings of scoreless ball, it was the Bruins that would break through first. Ross Feeley reached on an error leading off the inning ahead of Matt Evans who was hit by a pitch to put a pair of runners on with no outs. After a passed ball move both runners up 90 feet, Nash hit a sac fly to center to score Feeley for a 1-0 BU lead. The next batter up, Bontempo, doubled to left to chase home Evans, doubling Bellevue's lead.
Leland Tilley (4 Saves, 1.23) came on to toss a scoreless seventh which included a pair of strikeouts to pick up the save. With two more strikeouts, Tilley is now averaging 15.95 strikeouts per nine innings pitched which would rank second nationally if he had enough innings to qualify.
Neal Hunter got the start for the Nighthawks and tossed five scoreless innings for Thomas, allowing just three hits and a pair of walks while striking out six. He gave way to the 'pen which promptly allowed a pair of BU runs which proved to be the difference in the ballgame. Jared Corbitt (0-1) took the loss for Thomas, allowing a pair of runs (one earned) on a hit and a hit batter in 0.1 innings of work.
Kevin Rodriguez was the lone Bruin to record multiple hits, finishing 2-for-2 on the day. Julian Rivera had BU's other hit on the game.
The Bruins are back at it shortly with another game today against (RV) Mount Vernon Nazarene.
