OMAHA, Neb. -- The Bellevue University baseball team picked up a double-header sweep on Friday afternoon over Mayville State University to open a four-game North Star Athletic Association series.
Bellevue improves to 26-11 overall and 10-0 in NSAA play, extending their win streak to 14 games. The losses drop Mayville State to 11-21 (3-7 NSAA).
Game One: BU 6, MSU 3
Balas Buckmaster broke a 3-3 tie with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Bruins a lead late.
After Buckmaster's home run, Steven Elsner singled home an insurance tally later in the frame. Brayden needed just four pitched in a 1-2-3 seventh to nail down his third save of the season.
Parker McMan (5-1) worked six innings, striking out four and walking two. He limited the Comets to three runs despite allowing eight hits.
Garrett Lundmark (3-4) took the loss for Mayville State, getting tagged for all six runs (four earned) on 10 hits in 5.1 innings. He struck out five and walked one.
Logan Grant opened the scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the first to stake BU to a 1-0 lead.
Riley Rankin answered for Mayville State with an RBI-single in the second.
Bellevue scored twice in the home half of the second when Buckmaster singled to put runners on third. He took second when the throw from center fielder Carson Lundmark went to the plate. Rankin, the MSU catcher, tried to nail Buckmaster at second but his throw sailed into center field and rolled to the fence allowing Buckmaster and Anthony Lind, who had begun the play on second, to score.
Chris Shopbell tied the game in the third with a two-run home run
Neither team scored again until Buckmaster deposited a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left center for his third long ball of the season.
Game Two: BU 11, MSU 1 (8 Inn.)
Jace Wessels (3-0) went the distance, throwing a five-hitter across eight innings of work as Bellevue picked up a run-rule victory in Friday's second game.
Ayden Makarus broke a scoreless tie with his sixth home run to left, a solo shot.
Bellevue tacked on two in the fourth with Logan Grant chasing Steven Elsner home on a ground ball and Anthony Lind doubling home Elijah Tanner.
Jose Villarreal plated the lone Comet run with a one-out single in the fifth.
Grant singled in a run Jake Lacey chased home two more in the fifth as the Bruin lead grew to 6-1.
Scott Hansen singled home a run in the sixth before back-to-back doubles from Elsner and Grant chased in two more, and Lacey knocked home another with a base hit.
Bellevue finished off the victory in the eighth when Elijah Tanner brought Elsner home with a sac fly to induce the 10-run rule.
Derek Palmiere (3-4) took the loss for Mayville State, surrendering five earned runs (six total) on seven hits in five innings. He struck out three and walked one.
Up Next:
The Bruins and Comets continue their series tomorrow with a noon double-header from John Stella Field at Brown Park. Senior Day ceremonies, honoring Bellevue's 15-player senior class, will take place between games.
