Bellevue celebrates their 3-2 win over William Woods (photo/BUBruins.com)

Bellevue celebrates their 3-2 win over William Woods (photo/BUBruins.com)

The William Woods Owls were one strike away from winning on Bellevue, Nebraska’s home field, but Bruins  sophomore first baseman Todd Nicks launched a three-run homer off of reliever James Ball in the top of the ninth inning to give Bellevue  a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over William Woods Tuesday afternoon in the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round at Don Roddy Field, in Bellevue.

The Owls took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single to left-center field by Dustin Kremer. WWU scored a second run in the bottom of the third on a fielding error by second basemen Ross Feeley, to increase the margin to 2-0.

Williams Woods faces Madonna, MI., today in a must-win game at 11 a.m. CT.

Jared Hagley crosses the plate in the second inning (Photo Courtesy Bill Meyers, MBUSpartans.com)

Jared Hagley crosses the plate in the second inning (Photo Courtesy Bill Meyers, MBUSpartans.com)

Missouri Baptist held a two-run lead twice on Tuesday against Dakota Wesleyan, S.D. in the Opening Round of the NAIA Baseball National Championship. The Spartans posted four runs in the eighth and held the Tigers scoreless in the bottom-half of the final two innings to post a 6-4 win in the first game of the tournament in Oklahoma City, OK.

In their second game of the day, the Spartans were held off the scoreboard for 10 innings, but found a way to take down the number one in the country.  MBU loaded the bases and recorded a walk-off win on a hit batsman in the bottom of the 13th inning to advance in the winner’s bracket with a win over Oklahoma City, 5-4.

Missouri Baptist plays Concordia, CA., today at 2:30 p.m.