Articles

Published Tuesday, April 8, 2003 in the Sports Section of the Bellevue Leader

Evans reaches 700-win milestone

BY ERIC TAYLOR
BELLEVUE LEADER SPORTS EDITOR

Don't expect Bellevue University baseball Coach Mike Evans to use the weather as an excuse for his team's split of a four-game set with Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Newman University at Westgate Field over the weekend.

BU Coach Mike Evans.

The 21-19 Bruins, ranked 21st in the latest NAIA poll, slipped into second place in the MCAC at 7-3, one game behind College of the Ozarks.

Friday's games were played in near freezing conditions after an early-afternoon snowfall, but Evans said getting the games in was a necessity.

"Our conference standings are bases on games won, not winning percentage, so you can't afford to let any games get away," Evans said. "It was brutal conditions, but they adjusted better than us.

"Weather can be a great equalizer and they handled it better than we did. We have to get tougher in that situation."

After scoring nine runs in a 9-2 win in Friday's opener, the Bruins were held to just five runs by Jet pitching over the next three games.

BU's Will Guidebeck drops down a bunt against Newman.

"I think we've got a good team, we just haven't put it together yet," Evans said. "I believe in this group and I know we'll get it together by the end of the year."

It was a memorable week for Evans as Bellevue's sweep of York College on April 1 gave Evans his 700th victory in his 15 years at Bellevue.

"I guess if you coach enough games, you're bound to put up those numbers," Evans joked. "The thing I'm most proud of is the respect people have for our program. The guys on our teams go out there expecting to win."

Bellevue was scheduled to host Peru State Tuesday, but the weather put those games in jeopardy. BU travels to Oklahoma Wesleyan for a four-game series this weekend.

BU 11, St. Scholastica 8 - BU broke a 7-7 deadlock with two runs in the fourth and held on for the non-conference victory March 31 at Westgate. Nick Wayne had a home run and three RBIs in the win while Rob Wirth had four hits and knocked in four. Brian Williams got the win in relief.

St. Scholastica 8, BU 4 - Darrin Meloche's grand slam wasn't enough as No. 15 St. Scholastica rallied to earn a split.

BU 12, York 0 - Mike Andrusco, Wayne and Wirth each had home runs to lead the 15-hit attack. Luke Faxon went the distance for the win, allowing just five hits.

BU 13, York 4 - Wirth and Skye McSweeney each homered as the Bruins completed the sweep. Ron Madej got the victory in the conference doubleheader.

BU 9, Newman 2 - BU used a five-run fourth inning to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the first game of Friday's twinbill. Nick Treadway had a home run while Matt Zach tossed a complete game four-hitter for the win.

Newman 5, BU 2 - Newman scored three unearned runs to earn a split. Treadway had a home run in the loss.

BU 2, Newman 1 - BU pushed across a run in the bottom of the eighth inning for the victory in Saturday's opener. Faxon threw all eight innings, allowing just four hits for the win.

Newman 2, BU 1 - Newman returned the favor by scoring a run in the top of the eighth inning in the nightcap. Will Guidebeck and Andrusco each had doubles as BU managed just five hits.

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