Bruins open 2017 season with sweep over Spires

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

CHICKASHA, Okla. -- The third-ranked Bellevue University baseball team pounded out 35 hits and scored 37 runs en route to a 16-8, 21-1 season-opening sweep over the University of Saint Mary Saturday afternoon on the campus of the University of Science & Arts. 

Bellevue scored runs in all but three innings of the twinbill. 

The Bruins will play a 12 p.m. doubleheader against the University of Science & Arts (Okla.) tomorrow (Feb. 12) in Chickasha, Okla. 

Game 1: Bellevue 16, Saint Mary 8

Ten Bruins collected at least one hit as BU opened the year with a 16-8 win over the Spires. 

The Spires scored two early runs in the top of the first thanks to three Bruin fielding errors. 

Bellevue responded in the bottom half of the first on Joe Moran's solo homer to slice the lead to 2-1.  

The Bruins scored four runs in the bottom of the third on RBI singles from Miles Campbell and Blake Macdonald and a two-run single by Jake Browne, giving BU a 5-2 advantage. 

A two-run single by Derik Bontempo, one-run singles by Todd Nicks, Matt Evans, and Campbell and an RBI double by Jordan Baughman highlighted a seven-run fourth inning as BU pushed ahead 12-2. 

The Bruins added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double from Nicks and a two-run single by Macdonald. 

An RBI double by Riley Baasch in the bottom of the sixth pushed the margin to 16-2. 

After a BU pitching change, the Spires scored six runs on five hits in the top of the seventh to make the final, 16-8. 

Ben McKendall (1-0) picked up the win, allowing four hits with no walks and five strikeouts in six innings on the mound. 

Game 2: Bellevue 21, Saint Mary 1

Five Bruins produced multiple hits as BU recorded 19 total hits in the 21-1 win in the nightcap. Diego Iribarren went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs scored to pace the BU offense. Campbell finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Moran was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. 

Hunter Kelly and Nicks both produced home runs in the victory.

The Bruins raced out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by Moran and sacrifice flies by Bontempo and Iribarren.    

A solo homer by Nicks highlighted a three-run second inning as BU doubled the lead at 6-0.

The Spires got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth on a solo homer by Andrew Berry.

The Bruins erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the fourth, sparked by two-run doubles by Campbell and Iribarren, RBI singles by Moran and Browne, and an RBI double by Baughman to give BU a 15-1 margin. 

A bases-load walk and a two-run double by Brandon Salmon gave BU an 18-1 advantage after five innings. 

Bellevue added three runs in the sixth with a two-run homer by Hunter Kelly and an RBI double by Irribarren to push the lead to 21-1. 

Zach Wilson (1-0) collected the win, scattering four hits with five strikeouts and just one walk in four innings of work.