BELLEVUE, Neb. — Bellevue University used a strong start from Brayden Andersen and a late insurance run to defeat Nelson University, 3-2, in an elimination game Wednesday at the NAIA National Championship Opening Round Bellevue Bracket at Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex.

The Bruins improved to 50-5, marking the third 50-win season in Duane Monlux's 16 seasons as head coach at BU. Nelson ended its season at 38-19. Bellevue also advanced to the championship game of an NAIA Opening Round for the ninth time and avenged Monday's 9-6 tournament-opening loss to the Lions.

How It Happened

Nelson struck first in the second inning after Zeke Velazquez singled through the left side, and TJ Sweat entered as a pinch runner. Sweat moved to second on Mitchell Baker's groundout before Tristian McGee delivered a two-out RBI single to left-center field for a 1-0 lead.

Andersen settled in from there. After Joshua Pinter walked in the third, Andersen retired 13 consecutive batters before McGee was hit by a pitch to open the eighth inning.

Bellevue broke through in the fifth after Jaylan Ruffin was hit by a pitch and Nick Gravel walked with two outs. Oak Held followed with an RBI single through the right side to score Ruffin and tie the game. Carter Claerhout then singled to center field, bringing in Gravel to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead.

BU threatened again in the sixth after Xavier Lerma and Dylan Holmes opened the inning with singles. Anthony Lind moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt, and Mason Spellecy walked to load the bases, but Nelson escaped when Ruffin reached on a fielder's choice that retired Jackson Polk at the plate, and Gravel followed with another fielder's choice to end the inning.

Nelson put the tying run at third in the eighth after McGee was hit by a pitch, Sweat moved to second on Addison Patton's sacrifice bunt, and advanced to third on Odnal Rivera's groundout. Brody Burnette entered with two outs and walked Drew Ortiz and Pinter to load the bases before getting Ethan Starks to foul out to right field.

The Bruins added an important run in the bottom of the eighth. Lerma singled to third base, and Polk entered as a pinch runner. Conner Boyd moved Polk to second with a sacrifice bunt, and Lind's groundout advanced him to third. Spellecy followed with a two-out RBI single to left-center field to make it 3-1.

The Lions made one final push in the ninth. Velazquez singled, Carter Harrison entered as a pinch runner, and Burnette struck out Baker and Michael Montano. Tate Thrasher singled through the left side, and Patton followed with an RBI single up the middle to cut the deficit to 3-2. A wild pitch moved the tying and go-ahead runs into scoring position, but Burnette induced a groundout from Rivera to close the game.

Andersen improved to 11-1 after allowing one run on four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts over 7.2 innings. Burnette earned his 15th save after allowing one run on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts over 1.1 innings. Neco Lopez took the loss for Nelson, falling to 4-4 after allowing two runs on five hits with three walks and seven strikeouts over six innings.

Inside the Numbers

• Bellevue: 3 runs on 7 hits, 0 errors, 9 LOB; Nelson: 2 runs on 7 hits, 0 errors, 8 LOB.
• Bellevue went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position; Nelson went 2-for-8.
• All three Bellevue runs came on two-out RBI singles.
• Lerma recorded Bellevue's only extra-base hit with a second-inning double.
• Andersen and Burnette combined for nine strikeouts.

Top Performers

Bellevue University

• Brayden Andersen — W, 7.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
• Brody Burnette — SV, 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• Xavier Lerma — 3-for-4, double
• Mason Spellecy — 1-for-3, RBI, BB
• Oak Held — 1-for-4, RBI
• Carter Claerhout — 1-for-4, RBI

Nelson University

• Zeke Velazquez — 2-for-4
• Tristian McGee — 1-for-2, RBI, HBP
• Addison Patton — 1-for-3, RBI, sacrifice bunt
• Neco Lopez — L, 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K

Up Next

Bellevue advances to face Indiana University-Southeast in the Bellevue Bracket championship game at 3:30 p.m. today at Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex. IU-Southeast is undefeated in the tournament, so a Bellevue win would force an if-necessary championship game at noon Thursday, May 14.