Bruins sweep triple-header, secure NSAA series victory over Mayville

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Game 3 Box Score
North Star Standings

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Backed by strong performances on both sides of the ball the Bellevue University baseball team won all three games of a triple-header against Mayville State University in the North Star Athletic Association-openers for both teams on Friday afternoon at the Joplin Athletic Complex's Wendell Redden Stadium.

Bellevue won game one by a score of 10-1 before going onto a 6-3 victory in game two and ending the day by posting an 11-0 triumph.

Records:

Bellevue: 12-13 | 3-0 NSAA
Mayville State: 6-10 | 0-3 NSAA

Game 1 Recap: Bellevue 10, Mayville State 1

Bellevue scored 10-or-more runs for the third-straight game to back Stephen Knapp's complete game effort on the hill to take the first game of the series, 10-1, over Mayville State.

Kory Longaker put the Bruins on the board first with an RBI-single to left in the bottom of the third. Travis Tanaka got things going with a one-out double to left-center before being lifted for courtesy runner Brandon Sparks who came home on Longaker's base hit. Riley Baasch doubled the BU advantage later in the frame with a line drive over the shortstop that scored Longaker.

BU added two runs in each of the next two innings to grab a 6-0 lead after five innings of play, highlighted by a two-run single from Cody Banks in the fifth.

Mayville got a run back in the top of the sixth. After Paxton Ketchum lined a one-out single to center and stole second, Riley Nelson chased him home with a single down the right field line.

With a two-run sixth and single runs in both the seventh and eighth innings Bellevue stretched their lead to 10-1 entering the final frame.

Tanaka, Longaker, and Banks each registered three-hit games for the Bruins to lead the offensive charge. Daniel Teasley and JT Patterson each had multi-hit games for BU who totaled 16 base knocks as a team.

Knapp (4-2) ran into some minor trouble in the sixth where he allowed a run on a pair of hits but turned in an otherwise strong start. In nine innings, he limited Mayville State to just one run while scattering seven hits and striking out three batters. For Knapp it was his first nine inning, complete game at Bellevue.

Comet starter Craig Broadman (1-3) was tagged for six runs – four earned – on 10 hits over 4.1 innings of work.

Game 2 Recap: Bellevue 6, Mayville State 3

Bellevue started strong in game two, scoring in the first inning and taking a 6-0 lead after three, en route to securing a 6-3 win.

Bellevue wasted no time getting on the board in game two. Kory Longaker reached on an infield single, took second on a wild pitch, and stole third after being picked off second before JT Patterson roped a single to right field to bring him around with the game's first run.

A five-run third inning, highlighted by a towering, two-run home run from Riley Baasch, broke the game open as BU took a 6-0 lead after three.

Mayville State halved the Bruin lead with a three-run sixth inning that saw the Comets rack up four of their eight hits for the game as well as see another runner reach base after being hit by pitch.

Cody Banks and Daniel Teasley each had two-hit efforts in the game which saw the Comets out-hit BU 8-7 for the game.

Bellevue starter Colton Walker (1-2) turned in a quality start limiting the Comets to three runs on eight hits over six innings of work. He struck out six and issued just one free pass.

Derek Browne came on to work the seventh to record the first save of the season by a Bruin reliever.

Mayville State starter Josh Rodriguez (0-4) lasted four innings, surrendering six runs on seven hits to the Bruins.

Game 3 Recap: Bellevue 11, Mayville State 0

Similar to game two, BU scored early and put Mayville State away with a big inning as they picked up an 11-0 victory to secure the series victory.

Bellevue again got off to a fast start with Travis Tanaka scoring on a passed ball in the first inning.

The Bruins added a run in the second courtesy of an RBI-groundout from Daniel Teasley to push their lead to 2-0.

JT Patterson doubled the Bruins lead with a two-run single to kick-start a six-run fifth inning. Later in the frame Teasley lined a two-run double to right and Stuart Eurich singled through the hole on the right side to chase in two more for an 8-0 Bellevue lead.

An inning later Patterson launched a two-run shot to left center and Bailey Link chased home another run with an opposite field double.

Bruin starter Jarrett Poh (2-0) went the distance on the hill for his second complete game shutout in as many starts. He scattered three hits and struck out 10 Comets on the day against issued just a pair of walks.

Comet starter Austin Herrington (2-1) lasted just 4.1 innings, allowing eight runs – four earned – on eight hits.

Up Next:

Bellevue will attempt to complete the series sweep against the Comets tomorrow with a single nine-inning game from Wendell Redden Stadium beginning at noon.