SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- Eight pitchers combined to allow just one run and 11 batters recorded hits as the No. 5 Bellevue University baseball team cruised to a 12-1 victory over Briar Cliff University in non-conference action on Tuesday afternoon at Bishop Mueller Stadium.
With the win, this year's Bruins team reaches 20 wins faster than any other team in program history as their overall record improves to 20-4. Briar Cliff drops to 14-12 with the loss, snapping an eight-game win streak.
BU opened the scoring with a sac fly by Todd Nicks in the second inning. The Bruins built their lead to 6-0 by the fifth inning. A run came in on a balk, Nicks drove in three more with a pair of singles, and the Bruins pulled off a double steal with Matt Evans swiping home to stretch the BU advantage.
Briar Cliff scratched out a run in the bottom of the fifth when Ryan Welsh reached first on a wild pitch after striking out which allowed Maurice Handcox Jr. to score on the play.
Bellevue added four more runs in the sixth to extend their lead to 10-1. The visiting side added two more runs in the ninth on a pair of errors to account for the final margin.
Nicks, Kameron Miner, John Timmins, Aaron Bain, Anthony Contonio, Robbie Ayres, Blake Phelps, and Tony Monroy combined to not allow an earned run in the game. Nicks (4-1, 4.18) was credited with the win after leaving following two innings due to an innings limit.
Ross Feeley led the Bruin attack with three hits while Nicks, Joe Mancuso, and Joe Moran each recorded multi-hit games in the victory.
Bellevue plays their first conference double-header on Friday at 1 p.m. against Dickinson State at Westgate Field. The two teams wrap up the series on Saturday with a noon double-header at Roddy Field on the campus of Bellevue East High School.
