OMAHA, Neb. -- Bruin pitching combined to allow just six hits on the afternoon with Elijah Johnson tossing a no-hitter as the #10-ranked Bellevue University swept a double-header from Presentation. The Bruins won game one 8-1 before posting a 6-0 victory in game two from John Stella Field at Brown Park.
Bellevue has now won 19 of 20 to improve to 32-8 overall and remain perfect at 17-0 in North Star play. Presentation falls to 5-35 on the year and 3-15 in conference play.
Alexandro Celiceo (4-1) allowed just two base runners after the second inning as went eight innings, allowing just a run on six hits and striking out six.
Bellevue struck first when Brenton Davis grounded out with the bases loaded to score a run in the first.
The Saints scored their lone run in the top of the second when Mathias Gonzalez led off the frame with a wind-aided solo home run.
Bellevue retook the lead with a four-run third inning in which the only ball hit out of the infield was the third out of the inning.
Solo shots by Mathieu Sirois and Brenton Davis hit back-to-back solo shots in the fourth to extend the lead to 7-1.
Andrew Ishii ripped a double down the left field line to drive in CJ Townsend with the final run in the eighth.
Payton Higgins made his return to the diamond with his season debut after his fight with cancer. He came on defensively in the seventh to play right field and flew out in two at-bats.
Peyton Rees (0-8) took the loss after being charged with five earned runs on one hit and four walks. He also hit four batters.
Elijah Johnson (9-1) struck out 11 batters in firing a complete game no-hitter to lead Bellevue to a 5-0 win over the Saints in Friday's nightcap. In total he allowed four base-runners but retired the final 13 batters he faced.
Josh Vaughan and Zach Diehl doubled in runs in the second to open the scoring.
The game remained 2-0 into the sixth before Bellevue finally gained some separation when Vaughan delivered his second run-scoring double of the game. Vaughan later scored on an error and Diehl chased in another with a sac fly to plate Andrew Ishii.
Bellevue took that 5-0 lead into the seventh and, having saved his best for last, Johnson struck out the side to complete the first BU no-hitter since Apr. 24, 2018.
The Bruins and Saints wrap up their series tomorrow with a noon double-header. Senior Day ceremonies will take place between games.
