Although the #4 ranked Bellevue College Baseball team was swept on opening day, the Bulldogs stormed back in convincing fashion showing everything from highlight-reel plays defensively to offensive prowess to pitching dominance as Bellevue and Mount Hood split the series 2-2 on NWAC-opening weekend in Gresham, OR. Contrary to last year’s snow-out in Gresham, this year’s opener was under sunny 55 degree skies on a pristine Oslund Field surface that saw two storied programs battle all weekend.
On Friday in the season-opener for both clubs, Bellevue’s #1 ace, Brock Hathaway, who was 7-0 last year, labored with pitch count and 5 walks and was out after two innings with the score 3-3. Enter Eric Anderson, a division one signee who fanned 7 in 5 innings of work to keep the ‘dogs in the game. He allowed only 3 hits and walked none in his debut. Although still in the game, the veteran-heavy lineup generated only 3 hits for the night as the Bulldogs fell 5-3. In game two, BC had the lead 5-3 into the eighth but ran intro trouble with walks in the late innings as Mt. Hood was able to come back and win on a walk-off single 6-5. Freshman Pierce Leavengood had 2 hits and 2 RBI’s in his college debut to lead the Bulldogs.
On Sunday, the bats came alive and Bellevue continued to roll out quality pitching in a 12-5 and 5-0 sweep over Mt. Hood. Down 3-2 midway through game one on Sunday, the Bulldogs erupted for 10 runs over the final four innings for the win as Lukas Motta led the way with 3 hits. Freshman Carter Sutton made his college debut on the mound on his birthday and went 3 innings without giving up an earned run while fanning 3 to earn the save.
In game two, Kale Seitz and Fred Buckson both homered as BC rode the arms of Nate Butcher and Jacob Dahlstrom in a 5-0 shutout win. Butcher tossed a no-hitter in his four innings of work while Dahlstrom fanned four while walking nobody in his debut.
The Bulldogs, now 2-2, will face Green River in a single 9-inning game this Tuesday February 25 at 2:00 p.m. at Hogan Park in Kent.
Last Updated February 23, 2020
