FORT WORTH, Texas -- After squandering a three-run lead in the opener, the Bellevue University baseball team erupted for 10 runs in the nightcap as the Bruins picked up a split with Texas Wesleyan University in their spring-opener on Sunday afternoon.
Texas Wesleyan took a 4-3 victory in game one before the Bruins bounced back with a 10-5 triumph in game two. Both Bellevue (4-2) and Texas Wesleyan (6-2) are receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Top 25.
Game 1: TWU 4, BU 3
Bellevue struck first in the opener with back-to-back two out, RBI-singles from Riley Baasch and Andrew Ishii.
A double off the bat of Brenton Davis in the fourth plated Conner Barnett to stretch the Bruin lead to 3-0 but the Rams responded in the home half. Jose Sosa triple home Tyriece Silas before coming home two batters later on a sac fly. A BU error allowed a third runner to score to tie the game at 3-3.
Bellevue threatened to break the deadlock in both the sixth and the seventh innings, loading the bases in both frames but were unable to break through.
BU starter Cory Jackson turned in a quality start with six effective innings in which he allowed just a pair of earned runs on three hits but did not factor in the decision.
Derek Browne came on in relief to begin the seventh. After retiring the first two batters he faced, Ryne Randle drew a walk before Silas delivered the game-winner, a walk-off double as the Rams took game one by a 4-3 final.
Morgan McCloud was charged with all three runs (two earned) in 4.1 innings of work. Four Ram relievers combined on 2.2 scoreless innings of relief work. Garrett Moltzan (2-0) picked up the win, striking out a pair after coming on with the bases loaded and nobody out in the seventh.
Davis and Ishii each recorded two-hit games for Bellevue while Baasch reached safely in three of his four plate appearances with a hit and a pair of walks.
Game 2: BU 10, TWU 5
Bellevue again struck first in game two with an unearned run in the top of the first.
Joseph Barfield doubled in a run for the Rams to tie the game in the bottom of the second but BU responded immediately when Payton Higgins singled home Connor Barnett in the top half of the third to take a 2-1 lead.
Rigo Duarte gave Bellevue some breathing room in the fourth with a three-run shot, his second of the year, after back-to-back walks to open the frame. The Bruins added an unearned run when Conner Barnett came home on a throwing error for a 6-1 BU lead.
Jose Sosa pulled a run back for the Rams in the bottom of the fourth, with a solo shot to left to lead off the inning.
Brenton Davis drew a bases loaded walk to push across another run in the fifth before Payton Higgins delivered a two-run single later in the frame to stretch the Bellevue lead to 9-2.
Texas Wesleyan responded with three runs of their own in the fifth and a double by pinch-hitter Matt Espinoza and a two-run single from Kaden Brown.
Trailing 10-5 in the bottom of the seventh, TWU threatened as they loaded the bases with two outs but Bruin reliever Alexandro Celiceo induced a foul out to end the game.
BU right-hander Charlie Patterson (2-0) worked five solid innings, allowing three earned runs (five total) on four hits. He struck out five and issued three walks.
Elijah Johnson and Celiceo each worked a single scoreless, though adventurous, inning in relief.
Luis Valdez-Lopez (1-2) took the loss, allowing five runs – four earned – on three hits and four walks in 3+ innings of work.
Up Next:
The Bruins and Rams wrap up their four-game set tomorrow with another double-header slated for a noon start.
