V-Hawks open up NSAA play with weekend series at Bellevue

OMAHA, Neb. – The Viterbo University Baseball team (7-14) opened up North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) play this weekend against No. 10-ranked Bellevue University in Omaha. The V-Hawks fell to the Bruins in both double-headers on Saturday and Sunday.

SATURDAY:

Game one (Bellevue – 13, Viterbo – 7):

• Kendal Hofer got the V-Hawks on the board in the first inning with a solo homer to left field.
• Bellevue held Viterbo scoreless for the next four innings before Blake Warner led off the fifth inning with a solo shot to left field.
• The V-Hawks then loaded the bases in the fifth with zero outs after two singles and a walk. Remy Stern hit a sac fly for the V-Hawks second run of the inning. 
• In the sixth, the V-Hawks loaded the bases again with one out after three consecutive walks. Brandon Good stepped up to the plate for Viterbo and slugged a grand slam to bring the V-Hawks within two of the Bruins.
• Caleb Beckman pitched three innings for the V-Hawks, allowing three runs on six hits with one strikeout.

Game two (Bellevue – 4, Viterbo – 0):

• Kendal Hofer got the lone hit for the V-Hawks in the first inning after a single to center.
• Eric Taylor pitched five solid innings for Viterbo, allowing three earned runs off nine hits with three strikeouts.
• Bellevue's Elijah Johnson pitched a complete-game shutout, striking out 14 batters in seven innings.

SUNDAY:

Game one (Bellevue – 8, Viterbo – 3):

• The V-Hawks struck first in inning number one after Good singled to second base and Camden Smith scored.
• Solid pitching be Bellevue held the V-Hawks scoreless through the next five innings until Zach Braun hit a solo home run to center in the seventh.
• The V-Hawks picked up one more run in the top of the ninth after three singles loaded the bases and Cody Wells hit a sacrifice fly.
• Ben Strassman pitched 4.2 innings, striking out five batters with only one walk. Kyle Gilbertson followed with 3.1 innings with three strikeouts.

Game two (Bellevue – 20, Viterbo – 3):

• Viterbo struck first for the third time in four games over the weekend, scoring two runs in the top of the first. 
• The V-Hawks collected another run in the top of the second after Keaton Westhoff singled, scoring Remy Stern.
• Jacob Pinc started the game for the V-Hawks, pitching three innings with one strikeout. Dante Selke, Wells, and John McMurray all followed, pitching one inning each.

The Viterbo Baseball team will return to play at Clarke University on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM CDT. Follow the action on our website or by following us on social media.