Bruins earn doubleheader split at Webber International

BABSON PARK, Fla. -- The No. 17-ranked Bellevue University baseball team earned a doubleheader split Saturday afternoon at Webber International University, falling 3-2 in the opener before rallying for a 5-4 win in the nightcap. 

Bellevue (6-2-1) will play a single nine-inning contest at Embry-Riddle at 6 p.m. on Sunday (March 3). 

Game 1: Webber International 3, Bellevue 2

Despite outhitting WIU 12-3, Bellevue surrendered three runs in the bottom of the sixth as the Warriors squeaked out a 3-2 win in the opener. 

The Bruins used four-consecutive singles capped by Ryan Knutz' drive up the middle to grab a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. 

Kyle Kinman drove in Dusty Kerns on a sacrfice fly to right field to give BU a 2-0 advantage in the top of the fourth frame. 

Kinman, the starting BU pitcher, gave up two walks and a hit batsmen to load the bases in the bottom of the sixth. The Warriors then scored their first run on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Suto and took the lead at 3-2 on a two-run single by Trip Merrell. 

Neither team threatened the remainder of the contest. Kinman (1-2) suffered the loss, scattering three hits with five strikeouts and five walks in seven innings of work. 

Game 2: Bellevue 5, Webber International 4

After building a 4-1 advantage, the Bruins gave up three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but quickly responded in the top of the eighth to pull out a 5-4 win in the nightcap. 

Elijah Dickerson went 3-for-4 with a double and the game-winning RBI to lead the Bruin offense. Tanner Moore and Brian Embery both added a pair of hits. 

Merrell's RBI single to left field scored Tim Hoelzer to give WIU an early 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first. 

Bellevue tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth on a fielder's choice RBI by Knutz that plated Chandler McLaren who reached on a triple to right center field. 

The Bruins scored three runs in the top of the fifth, highlighted by RBI singles from Brian Embery and Nate Mullins as BU grabbed its first lead of the game at 4-1. 

The Warriors tied the game up in the bottom of the seventh, scoring on a sacrifice fly by Hoelzer, an RBI single by Suto and an RBI double by Jason Anderson to knot the score at 4-4. The Bruins used three pitchers in the inning. 

Bellevue quickly answered in the top of the eighth, scoring off an RBI double from Dickerson to take back the lead at 5-4.

Moore took the mound in the bottom of the eighth, earning the save after striking out the final two batters.