OMAHA, Neb. -- The Bellevue University baseball team bounced back from a loss in game one to salvage a split against Mayville State University on Thursday evening in a North Star Athletic Association double-header at John Stella Field at Brown Park.
The Comets (14-7, 4-1 NSAA) took game one by a score of 5-3 before Bellevue (17-15, 4-2 NSAA) responded with a 5-0 win in the nightcap.
Mayville State meets Dickinson State tomorrow for an NSAA double-header at Brown Park beginning at 1 p.m.
The Bruins are scheduled to return to action on Saturday, Mar. 31 when they host Dickinson State in a single nine-inning game at Brown Park. Due to roster attrition, Dickinson State will forfeit the scheduled second game and BU will be awarded a 7-0 forfeit victory.
Game One: Mayville State 5, Bellevue 3
Pinch-hitter Obie Wilder drove a line drive three-run home run just to the right of the mini monster to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 Mayville State lead as the Comets rallied from an early 3-0 hole to defeated Bellevue 5-3 in the first game of the double-header.
Riley Baasch put Bellevue on the board first with a single up the middle to score Kory Longaker. Gary Dixon followed up with a single through the left side that plate Brandon Salmon.
BU added a run in the second before Mayville State struck for two in the third to tighten the game.
Bellevue starter Stephen Knapp – who did not factor in the decision – limited Mayville State to just two runs (one earned) while scattering six hits and striking out five over 5.0 innings of work.
Erik Barron (3-0) worked seven quality innings as he held Bellevue to three runs on nine hits to pick up the win. Mason Swegarden worked two perfect innings in relief to earn his first save of the year.
Zach Wilson (1-3) was hit with the loss in relief. Jarrod Molnaa tossed a pair of perfect innings to keep things close for the Bruins, striking out four batters.
Game Two: Bellevue 5, Mayville State 0
JT Patterson broke a scoreless tie with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to back a combined shutout from Bruin pitchers Reid Feeley and Max Dwyer as Bellevue picked up a split with a 5-0 win.
An error on a fielder's choice off the bat of Riley Baasch in the fifth allowed two more runs to score as BU doubled their lead at 4-0. Gary Dixon singled in Austin Alexander two batters later to make it 5-0 in favor of the home side.
Swegarden (4-1), after picking up the save in game one, worked four innings in game two. He allowed just two runs on five hits but was hit with the loss.
Kory Longaker was 3-for-3 with a walk in game two.
Feeley (3-1) fired six innings of shutout ball giving the Comets just two hits and striking out six. Dwyer pitched the seventh, striking out two, to finish things off.
