OMAHA, Neb. -- A seven-run third inning propelled the Bellevue University baseball team against Midland University, posting an 8-4 victory on Wednesday evening in non-conference action at John Stella Field at Brown Park.
The win ran BU's winning streak to 12 games as the Bruins improved to 24-11 overall while Midland dropped to 12-22.
Kody Butt (2-3) turned in his best outing of the season. The junior southpaw struck out seven Midland batters across five innings of work. He scattered six hits and issued one walk while limiting the Warriors to just one run.
Joshua Hardamon homered twice for the Warriors in the loss. He put Midland on the board with a solo shot in the top of the first and belted a two-run homer in the ninth.
Midland loaded the bases with three-straight singles with nobody out in the second as they threatened to add on to their early lead. Butt struck out Adam Muniz Jr. before surrendering a line drive into centerfield to Jacob Liquori that temporarily plated two runs. However, Bruin catcher Logan Grant alerted home plate umpire Sean Johnston that Liquori had too much pine tar on his bat. After verifying, Johnston ruled Liquori out and returned the runners to their bases, negating the would-be two-run single. Butt induced a ground ball from Brody Boyle to shortstop CJ Townsend who retired Boyle at first to end the inning.
Bellevue racked up seven runs on five hits in the third to vault in front of Midland. Scott Hansen, Logan Grant, and Anthony Lind each singled home runs while Jake Lacey doubled in another and Elijah Tanner chased one in on a ground out. Ayden Makarus capped the scoring for the inning with a two-run home run to right center, his fifth long ball of the season.
Balas Buckmaster tacked on a run for the Bruins in the fifth, drawing a bases loaded walk to score Lacey and extend the lead to 8-1.
Midland again loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth but managed to score just one run when Muniz Jr. grounded into a double play. Reliever Cannon Close retired Liquori with a fly ball to right to end the frame.
Brody Burnette and Brayden Andersen worked scoreless seventh and eight innings, respectively, before handing the ball over to Teron Williams for the ninth. Bruin pitching combined for 12 strikeouts in the ballgame against three walks.
Midland trotted eight pitchers to the mound. Tregan Graff (0-1) took the loss, surrendering four runs on two hits and a walk in just one-third of an inning.
Bellevue returns home to John Stella Field at Brown Park on Friday, Apr. 11 at 1 p.m. when they begin a four-game North Star Athletic Association series against Mayville State University (11-19/3-5 NSAA) to kick-off Senior Weekend.
