LAKE WALES, Fla. -- McGrane Pledger struck out 12 in a complete game effort but came up on the wrong side of Saturday's pitching duel as the Bellevue University baseball team fell to Brewton-Parker College 3-1 in the third place game of the Warner Classic.
With the loss the Bruins fall to 13-8 overall, wrapping up their Florida trip with a mark of 4-5. Brewton-Parker improves to 14-10 on the year.
Bellevue opened the scoring in the home half of the second. Alec Lee drew a leadoff walk before advancing to second on a base hit by Vincent Napolitano, and taking third on a Rigo Duarte fly out. Lee came in to score a batter later when Payton Higgins lofted a sac fly out to right field for an early 1-0 Bruin lead.
The Barons responded in the fourth with three runs on four of their five hits for the ballgame. Malik Germany, Eduardo Castillo, and Benjamin Harris all recorded RBI-doubles in the frame as BPC took a 3-1 lead.
Pledger (1-1) limited Brewton-Parker to just one base-runner the rest of the way. In total, he scattered five hits and struck out 12 against just one walk.
The Bellevue offense put a runner on base in each of the last four innings but were unable to produce a run as double plays ended both the sixth and seventh innings allowing the Barons to hold on for the win.
Roberto Urena (1-0) went the distance for the Barons. He allowed three hits and four walks while striking out three to pick up his first win of the year.
Bellevue travels to York, Neb. on Tuesday, Mar. 16 for a 4 p.m. tilt against York College (3-14).
