May 19, 2007

OMAHA, Neb. - Bellevue University, rated No. 8 in NAIA, punched their ticket to the Avista NAIA Baseball World Series with a 3-2 victory over Northwestern College on Friday afternoon winning the best-of-three series 2-0.

Bellevue scored what lead to be the winning run in the top of the seventh inning when Frank Smagacz (Omaha, Neb.) singled through the left side scoring Jerry Zachery (Midland, Texas).

The host Bruins held on as Northwestern College, 37-18, scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Tyler Espland picked up the save getting Jake Jansen and Michael Janssen to fly-out and strike-out to win the game as the Red Raiders left the bases loaded.

Northwestern College (Ia.) took a 1-0 lead when Michael Janssen led off the second inning with a single to the right side. Pinch-runner, Nick Jones, stole second base after Code Zeutenhorst reached on a fielder's choice. Curtis Comgaars singled to shortstop sending Jones to third. The Red Raiders took a 1-0 lead on a Jon Ganzen balk.

Two innings later, Bellevue reclaimed the lead scoring twice in the top of the fourth inning started off with a Scott Raterman (Warrenton, Mo.) double. Josh Northrup and Raterman advanced to second and third on a wild pitch after Northrup was hit by a pitch. Dion Parks (Steinauer, Neb.) tied up the game at 1-1 with a sac fly. Omaha native, Nick Rivera, put the Bruins on top with a single up the middle to send Northrup home from second.

Bellevue's insurance run in the top of the seventh inning paid off when Northwestern rallied in the last half of the ninth inning falling short of forcing a second game of the day.

Northwestern College got a pair of hits from Joe Heitritter (2-for-5) and Jake Jansen (2-for-5) while six other Red Raiders had the teams remaining six hits. Northwestern did out-hit the Bruins, 10-7, leaving 11 runners on base to 5 of Bellevue. Mihai Burlea had the loss allowing 3 runs on 7 hits in 8 innings of work. Jake Koerselman pitched an inning in relief with 2 strikeouts.

Bellevue University was led by Scott Raterman who was 2-for-4 with a double while Jerry Zachery was 1-for-1 with a pinch hit single and run. Josh Northrup (Stanwood, WA) was 1-for-3 with a run and a double while Jon Ganzen (Appleton, WI) picked up the win. Ganzen pitched 5 1/3 innings in the start allowing a run on 5 hits with 7 strikeouts. Severin Fries (Bern, Switzerland) pitched 2/3 of an inning in relief while Tyler Expland (Concord, WA) had the save going 3 innings yielding a run on 4 hits.

The Bruins will now play at the Avista NAIA Baseball World Series in Lewiston, Idaho next week starting on Friday, May 25 running through Friday, June 1.