Seventh-ranked Bruins open trip with DH split

BABSON PARK, Fla. -- It was a tale of two games as the No. 7-ranked Bellevue University baseball team shook off a slow start on Friday to earn a split in a non-conference double-header with Webber International University on Friday afternoon at Brad Niethammer Field.

The Warriors took the opener by a score of 8-4 before BU prevailed 9-4 in the nightcap.

The loss in the opener snapped an 11-game win streak for the Bruins as BU now stands at 13-3 on the year. With the split, Webber is now 13-8 on the campaign.

Game One: Webber International 8, Bellevue 4

Ty Mathews' three-run blast capped a six-run first inning as Webber jumped on top of the Bruins early in an 8-4 victory.

Webber's first six hitters all hit safely with Tugg Hollandsworth, Jalen Martinez, and Mike Cuello all singling home runs in the opening frame before Mathews' second long ball of the year.

The Bruins were limited to just one hit through the first three innings but broke through in the top of the fourth. After loading the bases with one out, Dylan Holmes singled home a pair of runs to get BU on the board.

Hollandsworth answered a solo home run in the home half, his second of the season, to push the Warrior lead to 7-2.

Xavier Lerma and Holmes greeted Gregory Bori with back-to-back home runs to open the sixth and get a pair of runs back for the Bruins, cutting Webber's lead to 7-4. Lerma's and Holmes' home runs were the third of the season for each.

Mathews singled home another run in the bottom of the sixth to quell some of the BU momentum and Bori retired the Bruins in order in the seventh to nail down the win.

Brady Baltus (4-1), who lasted just 2.2 in the start, surrendered six runs on 10 hits, struck out three and walked a pair.

Mason Veronezi (2-1) worked five solid innings to earn the win for the Warriors. He limited Bellevue to two runs (one earned) on four hits, struck out six, and walked one.

Game Two: Bellevue 9, Webber International 4

Carter Claerhout staked the Bruins to a 2-0 lead in the opening frame. Oak Held drew a one-out walk before Claerhout clubbed his seventh home run of the season out to right-center.

David Zamora halved the lead in the second with a two-out single to score Mike Cuello with the first run for the Warriors but Oak Held responded for Bellevue with a single through the right side in the next half inning.

That's where the score remained until Austen Jaslove singled home another run for Webber in the fifth.

Xavier Lerma opened the game up in the sixth with a two-run single before the Bruins put a four-spot up in the seventh. Nick Gravel singled home two with two out before Lerma went deep again, his second home run of the day and fourth of the year as the BU lead swelled to 9-2.

Webber struck for two runs in the ninth to pull the final margin closer but Bellevue held for the victory.

Kenji Miller (4-1) turned in a quality start, scattering six hits across six innings of work. He allowed two runs, struck out five, and walked three.

Cannon Close, who came on to throw the final three innings earned his first save. He held the Warriors to a pair of unearned runs on three hits and struck out four against one walk.

Trevor Carter (2-2) allowed five runs (three earned) over 5.1 innings of work, striking out one against a pair of walks.

Inside the Numbers:

For the second-straight season, BU and Webber split a double-header.

Bellevue goes for their first three-game series win over the Warriors since 2009. The Bruins did sweep double headers in both 2014 and 2016.

The Bruins are now 12-2 against teams that competed in the NAIA National Tournament last season.

Top Performers:

Bellevue University:

Xavier Lerma – 4-8, 2 HR (4), 5 RBI
Nick Gravel – 3-7, 2 RBI, 2 runs
Dylan Holmes – 2-5, HR (3), 3 RBI
Kenji Miller – Win (4-1), 6 IP, 5 SO, 3 BB, 2 ER, 6 H
Cannon Close – Save (1), 3 IP, 4 SO, 1 BB, 0 ER, 3 H

Webber International University:

Austen Jaslove – 4-7, 2B, RBI
Tugg Hollandsworth – 5-9, double, HR (2), 2 RBI, 2 runs
Keegan Martin – 3-6, 2 doubles, 3 runs
Mason Veronezi – Win (2-1), 5 IP, 6 SO, 1 BB, 1 ER, 4 H

Up Next:

The Bruins and Warriors wrap up their three-game set tomorrow with a 11 a.m. rubber game (noon Eastern).