Bruins stand on 21 with DH sweep of Mayville

Frontier Conference Standings

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Behind a standout pitching performance in the opener and some big innings in the nightcap, the No. 3-ranked Bellevue University baseball team extended their win streak to 21 games with a double header sweep of Mayville State University on Friday afternoon in Frontier Conference action.

The Bruins took game one 2-1 before outlasting the Comets 13-9 in game two to improve to 33-3 overall and 13-0 in Frontier Conference Play. The losses snapped what had been a five-game win streak for MSU as the Comets fall to 20-13 overall and 7-6 in league play.

Game One: BU 2, MSU 1

Bruin starter Brayden Andersen (8-0) worked six shutout innings of two-hit ball to take over the team lead with his eighth victory.

Bellevue jumped on the board in the opening frame. Nick Gravel blooped a double into left and took third on a base hit by Oak Held before Carter Claerhout chased him home with a sac fly.

The Bruins doubled their advantage in the third when Xavier Lerma scored Claerhout with a sac fly. Claerhout singled with one out and advanced to third on a double from Ayden Makarus before Lerma plated him.

That looked to be plenty of offense in support of Andersen who allowed base runners in just three innings with just one advancing past second base. He struck out one and walked two in an efficient 86-pitch outing.

Brody Burnette worked an eventful ninth to nail down his 12^th save of the season. After a pair of quick outs, Jack McQueen doubled to left and a pair of wild pitches sandwiched around a walk to pinch-hitter Bode Roberts saw McQueen score and Keegan Neva get into scoring position.  However, Burnette induced a ground ball to Gravel at second base for the final out of the game to secure the victory.

Sebastian Mizener (3-2) was saddled with the loss despite a complete game effort. He scattered eight hits across seven innings and struck out three without issuing a walk.

Game Two: BU 14, MSU 9

Dylan Holmes homered twice and doubled while Ayden Makarus also went deep and doubled as the Bruins took the victory in a wild game two.

Holmes put the Bruins on the board with a two-out solo home run in the top of the second.

BU looked to be firmly in control following a five-run outpouring in the fifth highlighted by Makarus' three-run home run.

Bellevue extended their lead to 8-1 before the Comets exploded for an eight-run seventh inning in which they sent 13 batters to the plate.

Jaylan Ruffin drew a bases loaded walk to tie the game in the top of the eighth and Nick Gravel put BU back in front with a sac fly before Conner Boyd came home on a wild pitch.

The Bruins added three more in the ninth. Holmes' second long ball of the game, a two-run shot, gave them a 13-9 lead and a fielder's choice from Ruffin accounted for the final run of the game.

Southpaw Kody Butt struck out eight over six-plus innings, allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits and a walk.

Cannon Close (2-0) worked 2.2 innings of shutout relief, striking out a pair, to earn the victory.

Rylee Hamms (0-1) allowed all four batters he faced to reach and was charged with allowing three runs on one hit and two walks.

Top Performers

Bellevue University

Brayden Andersen: Win (8-0), 6 IP, 2 hits, 1 SO, 2 BB
Cannon Close: Win (2-0), 2.2 IP, 3 hits, 2 SO
Brody Burnette: Save (12), IP, 1 ER, 1 hit, 1 SO, 1 BB
Dylan Holmes: 4-8, 2 HR (9), double, 3 RBI, 2 runs
Ayden Makarus: 4-7, HR (11), 2 doubles, 3 RBI, run
Carter Claerhout: 4-7, 4 RBI, sac fly, 2 runs
Nick Gravel: 3-8, double, RBI, sac fly, 3 runs

Mayville State University

Sebastian Mizener: Loss (3-2), 7 IP, 2 ER, 8 hits, 3 SO
Jack McQueen: 5-8, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 2 runs
Keegan Neva: 3-5, RBI, 2 runs
Tony Villarreal: 3-6, RBI, run

Up Next:

The Bruins and Comets wrap up their four-game set tomorrow with a double header. First pitch from the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex is set for noon.