Bats break out as BU avoids sweep with 11-3 win

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- The No. 5-ranked Bellevue University baseball team pounded out 16 hits to avert a series sweep with an 11-3 win over No. 8 St. Thomas University on Monday morning.

With the victory, Bellevue improves to 8-4 while the loss drops St. Thomas to 10-8.

Blake Crippen (3-1) served as the stopper, working 6.1 quality innings in which he punched out three batters. He limited STU to three runs while scattering nine hits and a trio of walks.

Kendry Noriega put the Bobcats on the board with an RBI-double in the first but Bellevue answered right back with back-to-back two-out run-scoring singles from Jake Lacey and Logan Grant to grab a 2-1 lead.

Drew Staley and Conner Barnett added onto the lead with RBI-singles in the second as the Bruins grew their lead to 4-1. An unearned run in the fourth made it 5-1 for BU.

Christopher Estrada delivered a pinch-hit single to score a run for St. Thomas in the sixth but again Bellevue answered.

With Lacey and Grant each chasing in runs earlier in the inning, Anthony Lind delivered a two-out, two-run triple to give the Bruins a 9-2 advantage.

After Crippen departed in the seventh, Noriega greeted reliever Teron Williams by singling home Matt Granato.

Williams retired the next eight batters he faced to preserve the victory.

Nick Grade doubled home a run and Lind singled in another in the eighth to provide the final margin.

Crosby Bringhurst (3-2) lasted just 2.2 innings allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks for St. Thomas.

Barnett, Grant, and Lind led the way with three hits apiece while Brendan Luther and Alec Ackerman also registered multi-hit games. Kanta Kobayashi swiped three bases in the win.

Bellevue continues their tour of the Sunshine State tomorrow against Warner University (12-8). First pitch is set for 5 p.m. from Royals Field in Lake Wales, Fla.