Bruins drop a pair at Warner Invite

LAKE WALES, Fla. -- Unable to build on a pair of victories yesterday, the Bellevue University baseball team suffered a pair of setbacks on day two of the Warner Invitational. The Bruins fell to Madonna University 15-4 at Lake Wales High School to begin the day before being edged by Mount Vernon Nazarene University 4-3 at Royals Field in the nightcap.

Records:

Bellevue: 7-13
Madonna: 12-10
Mount Vernon Nazarene: 14-7

Game One: Madonna 15, Bellevue 4

After the first three batters of the game reached base, Jalen Thomas launched a grand slam to stake Madonna to a 4-0 first inning lead and set the tone in the opener.

JT Patterson got a run back for the Bruins in the home half of the second with a solo shot to right-center.

The Crusaders put the game out of reach with a seven-run fourth inning to go up 12-1.

BU out-hit Madonna in the game 11-10 with Travis Tanaka, Patterson, Tommy Hansen, and Daniel Teasley each posting two-hit games.

Donovan Thacker (3-2) earned the win for Madonna, holding BU to four runs (2 earned) on nine hits in five innings on the hill. He struck out four and issued three free passes.

Brandon Desjardins took the loss (1-2) going 3.1 innings and allowing eight runs (6 earned) on six hits and four walks while striking out six.

Anthony Alvarado was the most effective Bruin pitcher in the game with two scoreless innings of relief. He struck out three and allowed one hit.

Game Two: MVNU 4, Bellevue 3

BU scored first on Tommy Hansen's RBI-single in the top of the first that scored Brandon Sparks but the Cougars answered back in the bottom half with a solo home run from Jake Glover.

The Bruins took the lead by on Stuart Eurich's sac fly in the second but a three-run third inning by MVNU saw the Cougars seize control of the game.

Bellevue got a run back in the fifth on an RBI-single by JT Patterson to cut the deficit in half, 4-3, but they were unable to complete the comeback as they stranded four runners on base over the final three frames.

Gustavo Fuentes (1-0) came on in relief to earn the win. Over 3.0 innings he limited BU to just one run on a pair of hits. Jacob Roe worked a scoreless seventh to pick up his first save of the season.

Mitch Savine (1-3) went just 2.0 innings, allowing three runs (2 earned) on six hits as he took the loss. Anthony Alvarado again came on in relief and limited MVNU to just one run despite allowing five hits and issuing three walks over 3.1 innings.

Up Next:

Bellevue closes out play, and their Florida trip, tomorrow at the Warner Invitational. A game time and opponent will be announced later this evening.