Bruins run streak to 12; sweep Red Raiders in home opener

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | 2013 Schedule

OMAHA, Neb. -- The 17th-ranked Bellevue University baseball team won its 11th and 12th-straight games Tuesday, sweeping a non-conference doubleheader against Northwestern (Iowa) College at Westgate Field. The Bruins took the opener 4-0 before holding on for a 2-1 win in the nightcap.

Bellevue improved to 18-4-1 while Northwestern fell to 9-11 overall.

The two teams will play a 1:00 p.m. twinbill on Saturday, March 23 at Bellevue East High School.

Game 1: Bellevue 4, Northwestern 0

The Bruins outhit the Red Raiders by a 6-2 advantage, taking the opener, 4-0.

Despite hitting four batters, BU starter Kyle Kinman improved to 3-2 on the season, recording six strikeouts while giving up just two hits in the complete game win.

The Bruins scored the first run of the game on Ryan Knutz' RBI double in the second inning. NWC left fielder Mitch Peschon made a diving attempt at the line drive and it rolled to the fence, allowing Nate Mullins to score from first base.

BU took advantage of a two-out error and a wild pitch, adding its second run of the game in the fifth inning.

Mullins blasted a two-run home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the sixth to give BU the 4-0 win.

Matt Piocos (0-2) suffered the loss for the Red Raiders, allowing four runs on six hits.

Game 2: Bellevue 2, Northwestern 1

The Bruins held off a late rally by Northwestern and Mullins drove in the winning run as BU completed the sweep with the 2-1 victory in the nightcap. 

Tanner Moore gave BU an early 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Zack Clark who led the frame off with a single.

BU extended its lead to 2-0 in the fourth on Mullins' RBI single to right center.

The Red Raiders scored their first run of the day in the top of the sixth inning on a ground-out RBI by Davis Bloemendall that plated Cody Groskreutz, who reached on an error and advanced to third on a double by Noah Bohlmann.

After Moore moved from left field to the pitcher's mound in the top of the seventh inning, the Red Raiders threatened with a runner (Brett Rolls) on third and only one out. The Bruins threw out Rolls on the next play and Moore forced a groundout to earn his third save of the season. 

Sean McManus (1-0) got the win, scattering three hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings of work. 

Josh Turner (0-2) suffered the loss, despite allowing just five hits and two unearned runs with three strikeouts and no walks.