Bruins fall short at Embry-Riddle

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The Bellevue University baseball team had the tying run in scoring position in the ninth inning but could not complete the improbable comeback falling 10-8 to Embry-Riddle at Sliwa Stadium on Sunday evening.

Embry-Riddle improves to 7-10 with the win while BU's fifth loss in their last six games drops the Bruins to 7-6 on the year.

Bellevue trailed 10-2 headed into the eighth inning but scored three runs in both the eighth and ninth innings to make things interesting.

Trailing 10-5 into the top of the ninth both Derik Bontempo and pinch-hitter Diego Iribarren both drew walks before Riley Baasch launched his second home run of the game to left center field to tighten the once-comfortable Eagles lead to just two runs.

Following a pitching change, John King drew a walk and advanced to third with just one out on Hunter Kelly's second double of the ballgame. However, BU would leave the tying run stranded 180 feet away as Matthew Russell (Save, 1) was able to get a strikeout and induce a groundout to end the game.

The Eagles jumped out to a 6-0 lead, which included a four-run fifth inning, to chase BU southpaw Colten Barnes (L, 1-2) after 4.1 innings of work.

Baasch gave the Bruins life in the top of the sixth inning when he hit his first collegiate home run, a two-run shot, to left to drive home Bontempo.

ERAU tacked on three runs in the home half. Trailing 9-2 in the seventh, the Bruins loaded the bases with just one out but back-to-back strikeouts allowed starter Kenny Burkhead (W, 2-0) to escape the inning unscathed. Embry-Riddle tacked on another run in the seventh to grab their biggest lead at 10-2 before allowing BU back into the game.

Burkhead tossed seven quality innings for ERAU in which he limited Bellevue to just two runs on five hits. He struck out seven and walked four before yielding the hill to the bullpen.

Bellevue returns to the diamond tomorrow with a 2 p.m. game at No. 15 Keiser.