September 9, 2007

BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY BASEBALL GOLF OUTING

The Bellevue University baseball team will host their annual golf outing at Bay Hills Golf Course this Sunday. Please be sure to check out the form to sign up your team, or be a hole/green sponsor.

BASEBALL GOLF OUTING FORM

June 20, 2007

MATT KRUSE TAKES POSITION IN OKLAHOMA

BELLEVUE, NE - - Matt Kruse, Bellevue University baseball assistant coach, has announced that he will be accepting the position as assistant coach at Western Oklahoma State College in Altus, Oklahoma starting this fall. Matt has been a part of the Bellevue University baseball program since the 2004-05 season helping the Bruins compile a record of 142-47 with two trips to the NAIA World Series.

Matt Kruse will assume the duties as assistant and pitching coach at Western Oklahoma State College in addition to recruiting responsibilities for the baseball program. Kruse said of his new position, "I'm excited about working at the school where I played my college ball. I am looking forward to a new challenge where a team is ready to compete and make a run at their first World Series Appearance."

"I am very grateful to Coach Evans and Bellevue University as a whole for giving me such an outstanding career opportunity. My wife and I have been appreciative of all the support and friendly people we have come across all over campus. My time [at Bellevue] couldn't have been much better."

May 30, 2007

BRUINS SEASON ENDS WITH 5-7 LOSS
press release: courtesy NAIA World Series Press-Room

LEWISTON, Idaho – Brad Hinkle tossed his second complete game in a five-day stretch and Jeff Hollister drove in two runs without the benefit of a base hit to help Spring Arbor University eliminate Bellevue University 7-5 at the 51st annual Avista NAIA World Series at Lewis-Clark State College’s Harris Field on Wednesday.

Hinkle, a 6-foot-10 senior right hander, put up almost identical numbers from his 8-5 win over Walsh University on Saturday. In both outings, Hinkle (15-0) allowed 12 hits and five runs, four of which were earned. He had better control on Wednesday with five strikeouts and one walk, compared to four walks and three strikeouts on Saturday. He also held Bellevue to two hits and no runs over the final four innings.

Hollister went 0-for-4 at the plate with a strike out, but hit two ground balls that were able to bring in runs.

The win means Spring Arbor (48-4) will play top-ranked and defending champion Lewis-Clark State at 7 p.m. Pacific time on Thursday night. Lewis-Clark State played Houston Baptist later on Wednesday, but the result of that game will have no bearing on Thursday’s matchup. If Houston Baptist should beat LCSC, HBU will receive a bye into Friday’s championship game based on the fact it is the only one of the three teams left that hasn’t had a bye. If LCSC wins on Wednesday, Spring Arbor will have to beat the Warriors twice to claim the title.

Spring Arbor is guaranteed no worse than a third place finish, which will be its best finish in four trips to the Series.

Bellevue (47-15) held the lead in Wednesday’s game until the bottom of the fifth when Spring Arbor scored three runs for a 6-5 advantage.

Bellevue starter Nick Love (13-4) pitched five innings and allowed seven hits and six runs – five earned – to take the loss. He also struck out four and walked three. Reliever Severin Fries allowed a hit and a walk, but struck out two in his only inning of work, while Tyler Espland pitched the final two innings and gave up two hits and a run, and struck out one.

After Scott Raterman’s RBI single in the top of the first put Bellevue ahead, Spring Arbor took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Eric Votjkofsky and an RBI ground out by Hollister.

Bellevue countered with two runs in the top of the second when Nick Rivera doubled and scored on a single by Mike Pratt. After Pratt stole second, he scored on a single by Shawn Lee.

Spring Arbor tied the game at 3-3 in the third on another ground ball by Hollister.

Bellevue picked up single runs in the fourth and fifth for a 5-3 lead. In the fourth an error led to Carlos Jackson’s RBI double, while Blake Busson added an RBI double in the fifth.

Spring Arbor took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Jesse Bachman started the rally with a double and scored on a single by Brad Baker. After moving to second on a sacrifice bunt, Baker scored on a double by Jeff Tebeau. A single by Jon Herbig scored Tebeau.

Spring Arbor’s final run came in the eighth on an RBI single by Bachman, who finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Baker went 2-for-4 and also scored two runs. The first three hitters in the Spring Arbor lineup, Jon Schaible, Bachman, and Baker were a combined 6-for-12 with six runs scored and two RBI.

Jackson, Raterman, Rivera and Josh Northrup all had two hits apiece for Bellevue, which out-hit Spring Arbor 12-10 in the game.

This was Bellevue’s 12th appearance in the Series, which is the second most behind 26 for LCSC winning its only title in its first year in the Series in 1995.

Spring Arbor defeats Bellevue, 7-5 - Box Score/Play by Play

May 29, 2007

LCSC MOVES INTO DRIVER'S SEAT WITH 8-1 WIN
Lester drives in five as Warriors top Bellevue
press release: courtesy NAIA World Series Press-Room

LEWISTON, Idaho - Senior first baseman Ikaika Lester drove in five runs and two Lewis-Clark State College pitchers combined on an seven-hitter to lift the Warriors over Bellevue University 8-1 during the 51st annual Avista NAIA World Series at LCSC’s Harris Field on Tuesday night.

Lester, who missed part of the season with an injury, has been productive since his return. In seven postseason games, Lester now has 20 RBI. He drove in six in a Super Regional contest against Azusa Pacific.

Lester batted seventh in Tuesday’s ballgame and came through when needed. He finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and drove in the team’s first five runs of the game.

That was more than enough for Brad Schwarzenbach and Brian Parker, who combined to strike out five without giving up a walk. Schwarzenbach (7-0) went six innings and gave up four hits and the one run. He struck out four, but also hit four batters. Parker went the final three innings and allowed three hits with one strikeout.

The victory put the Warriors (56-5) in the driver’s seat. LCSC, the No. 3 seed in the tournament but the defending champion and the top-ranked team all season in the NAIA poll, is the only undefeated team left in the 10-team double-elimination tournament. LCSC can finish no worse than third.

Bellevue (47-14) is seeking its second Series title, but couldn’t collect the key hits when needed and also had some defensive troubles, including a lost fly ball in the lights that led to three Warrior runs. The Bruins, the tournament’s No. 5 seed, also committed four errors.

LCSC struck first for a run in the bottom of the second when Jessie Mier singled and was replaced by courtesy runner Donnie Ecker. After Kyle Greene was hit by a pitch, both Ecker and Greene moved up a base on a wild pitch. Lester then singed home Ecker.

Bellevue picked up its only run in the third when Carlos Jackson showed off his speed. Jackson was hit by a pitch, stole second and then scored when Zach Weidenaar grounded out to short. Jackson never stopped running on the play and caught the LCSC defense by surprise, barely beating the throw home from first base.

Lester put the Warriors out in front for good with a solo home run to left field in the fifth.

In the sixth, the Warriors scored four times to break the game open. The key play came with two outs and the bases loaded and Lester hit a high fly ball that both the left fielder and center fielder lost in the lights. When the ball came down, it was a good 10 feet from either fielder and dropped in for a three-run double. Jessie Roehl, who made a spectacular over the shoulder catch in the top of the inning to rob Bellevue, then drove in Lester with a single.

The Warriors added two runs in the seventh when Brent Wyatt singled and Beau Mills reached on an error, which moved Wyatt to third. A double steal allowed Wyatt to score and another fielding error allowed Mills to come in.

Bellevue appeared ready to do some damage in the top of the sixth when it was still a 2-1 game. The Bruins took advantage of some mental lapses by LCSC’s defense to load the bases with no outs, but Schwarzenbach got a pop up and a strike out. Nick Rivera then hit a hard line drive to right that Roehl turned and sprinted to the wall and extended his arms to make the catch before running into the wall.

Roehl and Mier finished with two hits apiece for LCSC, which collected 11 hits in the game. No Bellevue player had more than one hit and all seven Bruin hits were singles.

Bellevue starter Shawn Lee, who allowed two runs and four hits in 4.2 innings, took the loss in his first decision of the season. Bellevue used six pitchers in the game, but the final five all pitched an inning or less.

Both teams resume action on Wednesday. Bellevue will take on second seed Spring Arbor (47-4) at 3 p.m., Pacific time, followed by LCSC and Houston Baptist (43-21) at 7 p.m. The pairings were decided by the fact that the only team LCSC hadn’t played thus far is Houston Baptist. The NAIA redraws the brackets so teams that already have played once won’t play again unless necessary.

Lewis-Clark State defeats Bellevue, 8-1 - Box Score/Play by Play

May 28, 2007

BRUINS HOLD OFF LINDENWOOD RALLY FOR WIN
Zach Weidenaar scored and drove in a run in a 2-for-4 outing, as Bellevue topped Lindenwood, 9-7
press release: courtesy NAIA World Series Press-Room

LEWISTON, Idaho - Scott Raterman and Josh Northrup had two RBIs each and four Bruin batters had two or more hits, as Bellevue (Neb.) used a five-run fourth coupled with a two-run eighth to down Lindenwood (Mo.) 9-7 Monday at the 2007 Avista-NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.

Shawn Lee was 3-for-4 for Bellevue (47-13) with a run scored, while Zach Weidenaar and Blake Busson each went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in the two-run win. Lindenwood (47-19) was led at the plate by Ryan Shockley and Mike Parson, who each had three hits in the game. Shockley had three RBIs, while Parson drove in two.

Nick Love (13-3), who started the Bruins' opener on Friday, got the win in relief, and David Fields (3-2) took the loss for Lindenwood.

The Lions grabbed a quick 1-0 lead, scoring in the first when Shockley drew a lead-off walk on a full count, followed two batters later when Parson singled to right for the game's first run.

Bellevue shot back in the home half of the first, as Carlos Jackson opened with a lead-off double, scoring three batters later on an RBI single from Northrup to knot the score at 1-1.

A walk would follow to put runners at first and second with two outs, but Hullinger got Nick Rivera to fan, ending the inning with the score tied.

A Tim Hall two-out double set the Lindenwood table for the second-straight frame, and Shockley jumped on the first pitch he saw in his two-out at bat, driving the ball to right center to trade places with Hall and return the lead to Lindenwood, 2-1.

Lindenwood extended its lead to three runs in the third, starting with a single and a double that put Parson at third and Chris Bielski at second with nobody out. Travis McConnell flew to right for the inning's first out, scoring Parson, and Bielski came home later on a two-out RBI single by Hill.

The three-run lead didn't hold for long, however, as Bellevue scored five in the bottom of the fourth, starting the rally with a one-out double by Lee and an RBI single from Busson, followed by a Weidenaar single that brought Busson across for Bellevue's second run of the inning.

Bellevue snagged the lead when Scott Raterman swatted a one-out double, scoring Jackson and Weidenaar to give the Bruins a 5-4 advantage. Bellevue capped the inning when Northrup laced a single, plating Raterman to go up 6-4.

The Lions managed to get a run back with two out in the sixth when Chris Getz came home on a Parson RBI single, but Bellevue stood by its one-run lead until after the seventh-inning stretch, when Rivera blasted a one-out solo home run to make it 7-5. The Bruins threatened to stretch the advantage further, but with two out and runners at the corners, Jackson went down swinging to Lindenwood reliever Brett Kribs to end the inning.

The inning-ending strikeout proved crucial for the Lions, who tied the game in the eighth when Shockley nailed a two-run shot to center. Lindenwood had a chance to take the lead in the eighth, but a popped up bunt and a 4-3 inning-ending double play wiped out the Lion rally and sent Bellevue to the plate with a chance to take a lead.

Nick Rivera led off the Bellevue eighth by taking the second pitch of the at bat over the right field wall, hooking the ball around the foul pole to regain an 8-7 advantage. The next two batters reached and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice, followed by the second Bruin run of the inning that came when Raterman got dirty to score on a squeeze bunt by Jerry Zachary.

Bellevue preserved the 9-7 win in the top of the ninth, putting Lindenwood down in order to remain unbeaten in the 2007 Series. Lindenwood continues World Series play at 3 p.m. Tuesday, taking on the loser of the Spring Arbor (Mich.)/Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) contest, while Bellevue (Neb.) plays the winner of tonight's game at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Bellevue defeats Lindenwood, 9-7 - Box Score/Play by Play

May 25, 2007

BELLEVUE TAKES SLUGFEST FROM CUMBERLAND, 12-10
Jackson, Busson lead Bruins to opening-day win
press release: courtesy Steve Wilson

LEWISTON, Idaho - Blake Busson went 4-for-5 with three runs scored while Carlos Jackson drove in four runs while drawing four walks in a 2-for-3 day at the plate, as Bellevue (Neb.) jumped out to a quick lead and held off Cumberland (Tenn.) through the final seven innings in a 12-10 Bruin win in the first round of the 2007 Avista-NAIA World Series at Harris Field.

Bellevue opened the game with two in the first as Zach Weisenaar roped a one-out double to left, followed by a two-out error on a ground ball that scored Weisenaar and moved the batter, Josh Northrup, to second base. Norththrup would later score when Dion Parks singled to left-center.

The Bruins added three more in the second to go up 5-0, loading the bases with a pair of hits and a hit batsman. Jackson drew a bases-loaded walk to put the Bruins up 3-0, and an infield single from Weisenaar gave the Bruins their fourth run of the game with no outs in the inning. A sacrifice fly from Northrup plated Busson for Bellevue's fifth run of the game.

Cumberland shot back with two in the third, scoring first on a solo shot from Luis Martinez and again on an RBI double from Clint Alexander that scored Jeremy Wilson, who had walked earlier in the inning. An inning later, the Bulldogs cut the lead to one on a two-RBI single form Austin Morgan that pushed Alexander and Morgan across.

Bellevue cut the rally short in its half of the fifth with three runs, including a two-run homer from Jackson and an RBI double from Busson to put the Bruins up 8-4. Cumberland cut the lead back to 8-6 in the bottom of the fifth, as Alexander singled and Jason Bush doubled before Morgan plated both runners with an RBI single to right.

Both teams got a single run in the sixth inning and after a scoreless seventh, Bellevue grabbed three more runs in the top of the eighth, as Weisenaar pushed two runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Scott Raterman moved one across with an RBI infield single, followed by a two-RBI double from Parks to extend the lead to 12-7.

In the bottom of the eighth, Wilson and Eric Mull reached to open the inning, and after Chuck Belote came on to pinch run for Mull, Alexander doubled to right center to score one, followed by an RBI ground-out from Bush to cut the Bellevue lead to 12-9. The Bulldogs would get one more in the ninth, as Courtney Propst scored on a Martinez single, but with three on and the Bulldogs down two, Bellevue hurler Jon Ganzen got Wilson to pop up on the infield, ending the Cumberland threat and the game.

Bellevue starting pitcher Nick Love got the win to improve his record to 12-3 on the year, pitching five innings with six strike outs and seven runs on 11 hits. Bellevue used five pitchers in the game, as Ganzen picked up the save, his third of the season.

Cumberland starter Robert Clayton took the loss for the Bulldogs, lasting only one inning and giving up five runs on five hits. Anthony Fomasi threw 4.1 innings for Cumberland, striking out four in relief.

Bellevue earned two days rest and a 3 p.m. first pitch Monday with the win, while Cumberland must come back Saturday at 8:30 a.m. to take on Houston Baptist (Texas) in an elimination game.

Bellevue defeats Cumberland, 12-10 - Box Score/Play by Play

2007 MCAC Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1.  Bellevue University #
2.  York College
3.  Park University
4.  College of the Ozarks
5.  Central Christian College
T6. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
T6. Peru State College

#2006 MCAC Tournament Champions
*Former MCAC member Newman University won the 2006 MCAC Regular Season Championship

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