April 19, 2007

SEWARD, Neb. - Ed Lehotak was a happy man after Bellevue's double-header sweep of Concordia University (Neb.) on Tuesday evening, not only did his team win their 16th straight game with 6-5 and 5-4 victories, but he also recorded his 400th career victory as the team improved to 21-3 on the season, their best start since 2000 (22-2).

Ed said of his career milestone, "I give credit to the players, the team this year is focused and they play very hard. It takes players, past and present, to work hard all season to accomplish a milestone like this." The season started with high expectations as the team won all three games at the Evangel University Tournament to start the year. During spring break, Bellevue was 2-3. "The turning point this season, I feel, was in Myrtle Beach. The team lost a game I feel they had no business losing on our last day out there."

In 24 games thus far, Bellevue has won 16 games in a row, gave Morningside their first losses, defeated preseason-rated Evangel University (#14), and has picked up six victories over NCAA DII institutions climbing the ranks to No. 19 in NAIA.

The evening got better for Coach Lehotak as he also found out after the game that his pitcher, Jen Miller, and catcher, Sarah Walck, won Region IV pitcher and player of the week. This news was received after finding out that Peru State College lost to College of Saint Mary giving the Bruins sole possession of first place in the MCAC.

"It wasn't one our team's best games of the season, and it's a testament to all the players since our award winners didn't have their best performances tonight." For the Bruins, it's the sixth time this season the team has won with game-winning runs in the final innings, "We just find a way to win", said Coach Lehotak of the teams late-inning success, "...but when the day is over, a win, is a win, is a win."

In the first game, the Bruins scored first as Sarah Walck (2-for-3, 2-runs) singled with two outs and scored on a Lori Huelskamp double. Nikki Kalasky walked putting runners on first and second but the inning stalled as Erica Zerkle popped to the infield.

Concordia tied up the game (1-1) when Royuk singled to lead off the inning. Royuk (1-for-3) stole second base after Simmon struck out on a sac bunt attempt. Mol singled to center putting a runner in scoring position. Mol stole the Bulldogs second base of the inning putting two runners in scoring position. Huckestein (1-for-3, 2 RBI) walked to load the bases with one out. The Bruin catcher, Walck, had a throwing error allowing Royuk to score as all Bulldog runners advanced a base; however, the big inning ended with a groundout by Shaffer.

Concordia took the lead, 2-1, in the bottom of the second when Lambrecht scored on an error by Bellevue's centerfielder. Bellevue reclaimed the lead in the top of the third with three runs (4-2). Walck led off the inning with a base on balls followed by a sac bunt by Huelskamp. Kalasky reached base on an error sending Walck across home plate. Liz Davis singled to score pinch runner, Kim Haugen, as Davis later scored Bellevue's third run of the inning.

The Bulldogs battled back by scoring three runs to take the lead, 5-4, with a lead off single by Simmons. Mol bunt singled to put two runners on with no outs. Huckestein had a 2-run double to left center tying the game at 4-4. Huckestein scored on a Shaffer fielder's choice taking a one-run lead (5-4).

In the top of the seventh, Jacque Bowden reached base on a fielding error by Concordia's first baseman. Kayla Edick had a sac bunt to move pinch runner, Whitney Kinman, to third base and Alyssa Towey to second after her walk. After Jen Strohman struck out, Walck was intentionally walked to load the bases. Huelskamp tied the game on a RBI full-count walk. With the bases loaded, Kalasky was hit by pitch bringing across Towey for the game-winning run.

Bellevue pitcher, Jen Miller picked up the victory as Mol (2-for-4, 1-run) had a strike out, Huckestein popped to center and Hehn popped to shortstop to end the game. Miller went 3 innings in relief for her 11th win of the season as Chelsey White pitched 4 innings in the no-decision allowing 5 runs, 3 earned, on 5 hits with 4 strikeouts. Concordia starter, Bergen, pitched 5 innings allowing 4 runs, 1 earned, on 7 hits walking 5 batters. Hehn picked up the loss yielding 2 runs, neither earned, on 1 hit, giving 5 free passes to Bruin batters.

In the second game, the Bruins jumped on the Bulldogs early with three runs in the first inning powered behind a 2-RBI single by Liz Davis (1-for-3, 2 RBI). Bellevue added a third run when Alyssa Towey (0-for-2, run) scored on a wild pitch taking a 4-0 lead.

Concordia's half of the second inning, Shaffer scored to put the Bulldogs on the board. In the bottom half of the fourth, Concordia pulled to within a run (3-4) scoring twice in the inning with back-to-back RBIs from Shaffer (1-for-1, run, RBI) and Hehn (1-for-2).

Bellevue ended up scoring what led to be the game-winning run in the top of the fifth inning when Jacque Bowden (1-for-3, RBI) singled to right center allowing Nikki Kalasky to score putting Bellevue up 5-3. In the bottom half of the inning, Huckestein (1-for-3) doubled scoring Jeppesen.

Erica Zerkle picked up the save for Bellevue as she retired six of Concordia's final seven batters to hold for Coach Lehotak's 400th win. Jen Miller (12-2) picked up the victory allowing 3 runs on 4 hits with 4 strikeouts in 4 innings. Zerkle pitched 3 innings allowing a run on 1 hit for the save.

Hehn, Concordia pitcher, picked up the loss allowing 5 runs on 7 hits in 6 1/3 innings pitched. Concordia goes to 16-15 on the season. Four different Bulldog players had hits in the game as both teams combined for 5 batters being hit by pitch.

Bellevue will get back into their conference schedule this weekend as they will host Haskell Indian Nations University on Friday (Apr. 20) at 5 p.m. and Park University on Saturday (Apr. 21) starting at 12 noon. Bellevue will make a final push for the post-season next week as they will play five important conference games; a home double-header against York on Tuesday (Apr. 24), a make-up game against College of Saint Mary (Apr. 25) and close out the season on Friday (Apr. 27) hosting Peru State College.