Nelson rallies past Bruins in Opening Round

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BELLEVUE, Neb. — Fourth-seeded Nelson University rallied from a four-run deficit and scored eight times over the final five innings to defeat top-seeded Bellevue University, 9-6, Monday night in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round Bellevue Bracket at the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex.

The loss dropped the No. 2-ranked Bruins to 48-5 and sent them into the elimination bracket. Nelson improved to 37-18 after winning twice Monday, including an 8-1 victory over fifth-seeded St. Ambrose in the tournament opener.

The loss was Bellevue's first at the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex. The Bruins had opened their new home facility with a 17-0 record before Monday night's game.

How It Happened

Bellevue took control early behind Carter Claerhout, who hit a two-run home run to center field in the bottom of the first after Nick Gravel drew a leadoff walk. The Bruins extended the lead to 3-0 in the second when Dylan Holmes singled, Mason Spellecy doubled, and Jaylan Ruffin lifted a sacrifice fly to center field.

Nelson broke through in the fourth on Diego Arcay's double down the right-field line and Michael Montano's RBI single to center. BU answered in the bottom half, loading the bases before Oak Held brought in Spellecy on a fielder's choice. Claerhout followed with an RBI double to right center, scoring Ruffin and pushing the lead to 5-1.

The Lions began their comeback in the fifth. Odnal Rivera was hit by a pitch, Drew Ortiz singled, and Joshua Pinter reached on an error to load the bases. Ethan Starks drove in Rivera with a sacrifice fly, and Zeke Velazquez followed with an RBI single to trim Bellevue's lead to 5-3. Kenji Miller limited further damage, striking out Arcay and Montano to leave the bases loaded.

NU moved in front with three runs in the sixth. Addison Patton, Rivera, and Ortiz opened the inning with consecutive singles, with Ortiz's hit scoring Patton. After a groundout moved Ortiz into scoring position, Velazquez delivered a two-run single to right center to give the Lions a 6-5 lead.

Bellevue tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Ruffin was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a throwing error, moved to third on Held's single, and scored on Claerhout's sacrifice fly.

Nelson answered immediately in the seventh when Arcay homered to center field, giving the Lions a 7-6 lead. NU added two insurance runs in the eighth after Ortiz reached on an error, Pinter walked, and Velazquez doubled to right center to score both runners.

The Bruins brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth after Ruffin and Claerhout singled, but Cash Eckermann ended the threat with a strikeout. Anthony Lind singled and advanced on a wild pitch in the ninth before Eckermann closed out the win by inducing a groundout.

Miller started for Bellevue and allowed six runs on 10 hits with four walks and six strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Reid Madariaga took the loss, falling to 6-1 after allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits with one walk and one strikeout in 2.2 innings. Alexandre Dionne worked a scoreless ninth.

Eckermann earned the win for Nelson, improving to 2-2 after allowing one unearned run on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts over four innings. Javier Balderas started for the Lions and allowed five runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts in 3.2 innings.

Inside the Numbers

• Bellevue: 6 runs on 10 hits, 2 errors, 11 LOB; Nelson: 9 runs on 13 hits, 1 error, 10 LOB.
• Bellevue went 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position; Nelson went 6-for-18.
• Claerhout drove in four of Bellevue's six runs and finished a triple shy of the cycle.
• Nelson scored in five consecutive innings from the fourth through the eighth.
• The Bruins' loss was their first at the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex after opening the facility with 17 straight wins.

Top Performers

Bellevue University

• Carter Claerhout — 3-for-4, double, home run, run, 4 RBIs
• Jaylan Ruffin — 2-for-2, 2 runs, RBI, HBP, sacrifice fly
• Dylan Holmes — 2-for-5, run
• Mason Spellecy — 1-for-4, double, run, walk
• Alexandre Dionne — 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Nelson University

• Zeke Velazquez — 3-for-5, double, 5 RBIs
• Diego Arcay — 2-for-5, double, home run, 2 runs, RBI
• Drew Ortiz — 2-for-3, 3 runs, RBI, 2 walks
• Odnal Rivera — 2-for-5, 2 runs
• Cash Eckermann — W (2-2), 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

Up Next

Bellevue will face the winner of Tuesday morning's elimination game between fifth-seeded St. Ambrose and third-seeded Huntington at 6 p.m. tomorrow night at the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex. Nelson advances to play second-seeded Indiana University-Southeast at 2:30 p.m.