May 23, 2008

(Box Score)

LEWISTON, Idaho - No. 8 Bellevue (Neb.) University (52-15) used an offensive outburst and moved on to the winner's bracket after a 15-3, eight-inning win over No. 9 Ohio Dominican University (40-15) this afternoon from Harris Field in front of 2,135 fans. The game was No. 2 at the 2008 AVISTA-NAIA World Series. The 15 runs scored by the Bruins were the second most in its postseason World Series history - they posted 16 in a single-game during the 1998 Series.

Bellevue, the visitors on the scoreboard, scored in the first inning on Josh Northrup's RBI single, which plated lead-off hitter Dave Powell, who reached on a walk. Ohio Dominican tied the score in the third thanks to a sacrifice fly by Eian Banks. He drove home Venson Doster, who opened the frame on a double to left field.

The Bruins of Bellevue took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on a perfectly-executed squeeze play by Jerry Zachery. Zachery's bunt sailed over the pitcher's head and Zachary was safe at first on the RBI-single scoring Matt Anderson. With ODU in need of a big pitch from starter Jonathan Koutis to get out of the jam, he induced Powell into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. That play came on a 3-0 pitch from Koutis.

In the fifth inning, BU's Drew Farley knocked out his 10^th home run of the year off the tin shed roof in right-center field. It marked the first homer of the Series and increased Bellevue's lead to 4-1.

ODU cut the margin to 4-2 in the bottom half of the fifth inning on a RBI-single by Joe Janusik. But the ODU offense would stall after that while the Bruins offense would hit into high gear.

The game was blown open after a bases-clearing double by Bellevue's Andy Brown in the sixth inning. He sent a deep drive over the right-fielder's head which scored three runners. In all, the Bruins plated five runs in that frame, sent all nine batters to the plate, and expanded their lead to 9-2.

BC plated two more runs in the seventh frame and got past the 10-run margin with four runs in the eighth. With two outs in the eighth, Tucket Slade blasted a three-run round tripper to highlight the scoring.

With the win, Bellevue moves into a tie for fifth place on the World Series wins list improving to 20-21 all-time.

Jon Ganzen, who was the third of four pitchers for the Bruins, tossed 2.1 innings of shut-out ball to earn the win. Improving to 9-0 on the year, Ganzen allowed just two hits and struck out two. Kountis fell to 6-3 on the season going 5.0 innings for the Panthers.  He gave up four runs, all earned, on eight hits while walking five.

There were a combined eight pitchers who walked 20 batters.

For Bellevue, Nick Damas, who entered the Series batting .413, went 3-for-6 with four runs scored and two RBI. Shawn Lee finished a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Three other Bruins totaled two hits apiece as part of the 18-hit attack.

Doster and Janusik each came up with two hits for ODU.

BU compiled the most hits in the World Series since Cumberland (Tenn.) had 18 in the 12-10 loss to Bellevue in Day 1 of the 2007 World Series. In addition, the 15 runs is the most since Lindenwood (Mo.) put up 18 in the 18-5, 7-inning win over Houston Baptist in the first round last year

Bellevue advances to play No. 1 Lee (Tenn.) University tomorrow at 7 p.m. PST. ODU takes on the loser of No. 4 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) University and No. 5 Union (Ky.) College at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.