GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Nineteenth-ranked Benedictine University-Mesa used two long balls en route to a 6-3 victory over No. 7-ranked Bellevue University, Saturday morning on the final day of the season-opening NAIA Ball East-West Challenge being played at Greenway High School.
The Bruins, who outhit BENU 8-6 in the loss, fell to 1-3 on the season. The Redhawks improved to 3-2 overall.
Benedictine took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run homer to left-center field by Cameron Jowaiszas.
Bellevue responded in the top of the second inning, tying the contest at 2-2 with a solo shot over the right-field fence by Elijah Bear and an RBI single down the right-field line by Brendan Luther as the Bruins recorded four hits in the frame.
BENU regained the lead in the bottom of the third as Jowaiszas drove in his third run of the game with a sacrifice fly to center field, and Jack Fitzgerald launched a three-run dinger to left field to give the Redhawks a 6-2 edge.
The Bruins led off the top of the sixth inning with three straight singles, including an RBI shot up the middle by Jake Lacey that chased Redhawk starter Justin Bates as BU sliced the lead to 6-3 with no outs. Jared Cruce, who replaced Bates, got out of the jam after inducing a strikeout and a groundout double play to keep the BENU lead at three runs.
Redhawk pitcher Bobby Romitti entered in the top of the seventh. After walking Luther, Romitti struck out three straight Bruins to earn the save.
Brady Toth (0-1) suffered the loss, scattering four hits and one walk with three strikeouts while allowing six runs in three innings of work.
Bates (1-0) picked up the win, allowing three runs on eight hits with one walk and two strikeouts in five innings.
The Bruins return to action next Saturday, Oct. 10, when they travel to Oklahoma City for three games, beginning with a 12:30 p.m. contest against Concordia (Neb.) University.
