FREMONT, Neb. -- Riley Baasch launched a two-run home run into a stiff wind to turn a one-run deficit into a 4-3 BU lead as the No. 4 Bellevue University baseball team picked up their ninth-straight win over Midland University on Monday afternoon in non-conference action at Moller Field.
With the victory Bellevue – league leaders in the NSAA – improves their overall record to 43-7 while Midland – firmly atop the standings in the GPAC – falls to 34-16 on the year.
Todd Nicks got Bellevue on the board in the opening frame with an RBI-single to drive home Matt Evans with the first run of the ballgame.
An inning later BU doubled their advantage with Alec Chaney singling in Joe Moran to make it 2-0 in favor of the visitors.
Tanner Bos accounted for all the Midland offense on the afternoon. His two-run double to center field in the fourth tied the game at two. Two innings later he provided the Warriors their only lead of the game with a run-scoring grounder that allowed Chris Foster to come in for a 3-2 Midland lead.
That lead was short-lived as Baasch continued his hot hitting with his sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot, to center field to give Bellevue a 4-3 lead. Evans led off the inning with a single but back-to-back fly outs from Derik Bontempo and Todd Nicks had Midland an out away from escaping with the lead. It wasn't to be as Baasch made his only hit of the day a big one.
Bellevue starter Reid Feeley (W, 7-0) earned the win with 7.1 innings of quality work. He left the game with the lead after scattering three runs (two earned) on five hits and striking out six. Dylan Thorp recorded the final two outs of the eighth and Max Dwyer (Save, 8) recorded a perfect ninth inning to record his team-leading eighth save.
Midland's Daylon Owens got the start and threw well over four innings but did not factor in the decision. Dillon Cotner (L, 2-3) took the loss in relief.
The Bruins wrap up the regular season this weekend with a four-game set in Forest City, Iowa against Waldorf University. Friday's games are set to begin at 2 p.m. with Saturday's action scheduled to commence at noon.
