Wayne scored seven seventh-inning runs, but the Blair baseball team still held the Blue Devils off for a 10-8 road victory Saturday.
Relief pitcher Bo Nielsen stepped in and recorded the game-ending strikeout, stopping Wayne with the game-winning run on base.
“Little closer than we would have liked,” BHS coach John Roan said. “A win's a win.”
The Bears built a 10-1 advantage going into the bottom of the seventh inning with 11 hits. Their coach said it was team effort, particularly the six-run fifth frame.
“We had to manufacture some runs early,” Roan added. “The guys stayed in it and had a big inning.”
Dex Larsen led Blair with three hits, while Cade Ulven and Nolan Osterhaus notched two apiece. Ulven also knocked in two runs, while Larsen and Kaden Fletcher added their own RBIs.
The Bears' J'shawn Unger threw 4 2/3 innings, striking out seven batters before Ulven took over two innings. Nielsen then threw six pitches, closing the door on Wayne.
Before its road trip, BHS lost its Thursday and Friday games to rain and wet field conditions. It was scheduled to face Ralston on Thursday and Omaha Northwest on Friday, but neither game was played.
Coach Roan's team is 5-9 overall. It's beaten Platteview, Omaha Roncalli, Columbus, Omaha Concordia and now Wayne. The Bears' junior varsity was also victorious Saturday, besting the Devils 5-2.
