NSAA Tournament Central
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VALLEY CITY, N.D. -- Payton Higgins hit the game-winning home run in the top of the ninth to back another outstanding performance from Corey Jackson and the Bellevue University baseball team eliminated Waldorf University, 3-2, at the North Star Athletic Association Tournament.
Bellevue advances to the winner's bracket championship game tomorrow at 11 a.m. The Bruins (36-14) will meet the winner of Saturday evening's tilt between Mayville State and host Valley City.
Waldorf, who dropped six of seven against BU on the year, sees their season end at 20-30.
Cody Banks put the Bruins on the board in the top of the third with a two-run shot to left.
Waldorf cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fifth when Alejandro Gonzalez singled home James Hook.
Bellevue left seven runners aboard before scoring again, giving the Warriors time to tie things up in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run to left by Dusty Rogers.
With one out in the ninth, Payton Higgins came up with the big swing for the Bruins, driving his fourth long ball of the year over the left field fence for a 3-2 BU lead.
Alexandro Celiceo came in out of the bullpen to nail down the victory and pick up his third save. He retired all three hitters he faced with Thomas Capllonch singling with one out but Chaz Lopez hosed him at second trying to stretch his base hit into a double.
Corey Jackson took over the top spot on the Bruins' single-season strikeout list as the senior right-hander struck out 14 Waldorf hitters over eight strong innings. He allowed two runs on seven hits to improve his record to 8-2 and now has 150 punch outs on the season to move him ahead of previous record-holder Kyle Kinman who struck out 141 during his All-American campaign in 2014.
Sam Jones (L, 2-5) went the distance on the bump for Waldorf. He struck out eight and issued a pair of walks while allowing three runs on six hits.
