Knapp, offense lead BU past OKCU for split

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- A complete game victory for Stephen Knapp in the second game of the day saw the #23 Bellevue University baseball split in a pair of non-conference tilts on Saturday afternoon at OCU's Jim Wade Stadium.

Bellevue was unable to overcome six errors as they dropped the opener 5-3 at the hands of #21 Central Methodist.

In the nightcap, the Bruins scored an early-season high seven runs to take down #8 Oklahoma City, 7-4.

Records:

#23 Bellevue: 2-4
#21 Central Methodist: 5-2
#8 Oklahoma City: 8-1

Game One: #21 CMU 5, #23 BU 3

Bellevue scored a run and put runners on second and third with just one out the seventh but left the bases juiced as Central Methodist snuffed out BU's comeback bid.

Central Methodist made the first mark on the scoreboard with a Sergio Macias scoring on an error and Max McCay drawing a bases loaded walk to chase in a second run.

Things looked promising early for Bellevue as two of the first three batters reached in the opening frame but the Bruins were unable to capitalize and managed just one additional hit until the sixth inning.

Wataru Kazama put the Bruins on the board in the top of the sixth with a solo home run, his and the team's first of the season.

Z Westley restored the three-run lead for the Eagles with a two-run homer to left in the bottom half of the sixth.

Cody Banks led off the seventh with a double and came in to score on an RBI-single up the middle by Stuart Eurich.

Brandon Desjardins (1-1) was hit with the loss after yielding a pair of unearned runs on three hits and five walks in 3.1 laborious innings.

CMU starter Kyle Fulton (3-0) earned the victory with 5.2 innings of work. He limited BU to two runs on four hits and four walks while striking out six.

Sergio Macias picked up his second save despite an eventful seventh inning.

Kazama finished 2-for-3 on the day with BU's four other hits going to Kory Longaker (1-3), JT Patterson (1-3), Banks (1-2), and Eurich (1-3).

Game Two: #23 BU 7, #8 OCU 4

Stephen Knapp (1-1) fired a complete game and limited Oklahoma City to four runs – just two earned – on five hits and the BU offense backed him with an early-season high seven runs.

The Bruins went ahead with a three-run fourth inning as Daniel Teasley and Cody Banks delivered RBI-singles and an error allowed another run to score.

OKCU responded with a run via a Bruin error in the home half of the inning before Riley Baasch answered with a two-run homer in the fifth to put BU up 5-1.

The Stars scored three two-out runs in the sixth to close to within a run but Knapp struck out Bryson Lierle to prevent additional damage.

Knapp struck out five and did not issue a walk in the game after BU pitching staff entered the game having allowed 20 in their previous 31 innings.

Stuart Eurich delivered an RBI-single and later scored on a passed ball in the seventh to provide some insurance and Knapp closed the door with a 1-2-3 seventh to seal the victory.

Brandon Goldston (2-1) suffered the loss for the Stars after allowing four earned (five total) on six hits in 5.0 innings of work.

Up Next:

Bellevue wraps up their trip to Oklahoma City tomorrow against Texas A&M-Texarkana with first pitch slated for 12:30 p.m.