DICKINSON, N.D. – Top-seeded Bellevue (Neb.) used a pair of multi-run innings early and a seven-run eighth frame to overpower Dickinson State (N.D.) 18-2 in the winner’s bracket of the 2025 North Star Athletic Association Baseball Tournament on Friday at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.

With the win, the Bruins (39-13) advance to the NSAA championship, while the Blue Hawks (20-28) fall into an elimination game.

Bellevue jumped out early, scoring seven runs in the second inning to take control. The Bruins tallied five hits in the frame, including back-to-back home runs from Steven Elsner and Logan Grant. Elsner’s three-run shot capped the scoring surge and was one of two homers on the day for the senior from San Francisco, Calif.

CJ Townsend and Scott Hansen also contributed multiple hits in the second, while Nick Gravel drove in the game’s first run with an RBI single. Bellevue added four more runs in the fourth inning, highlighted again by Elsner’s second homer, a two-run shot to center. Jake Lacey doubled home another run, and Ayden Makarus reached on an error that allowed a fourth run to cross, stretching the lead to 10-0.

Dickinson State answered in the bottom of the fifth when Jadyn Roberts launched a two-run home run to left field, scoring Moses Dokes, who reached on an error. It was Roberts’ second hit of the day and accounted for all of the Blue Hawks’ scoring.

Bellevue closed the game with a seven-run eighth, taking advantage of four hits, a walk, two hit batters, a wild pitch and two passed balls. Townsend delivered a two-run single up the middle, and Hansen picked up his third RBI of the game with a single to center.

Kenji Miller earned the win for Bellevue, improving to 9-0 on the season. The junior left-hander from Shoreline, Wash., allowed just three hits and one earned run over eight innings, striking out five and walking three on 91 pitches.

Dickinson State used five pitchers in the loss. Starter Tate Williams took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on five hits and two hit batters over two innings. Cooper Van Luchene, Noah Aliff, Anthony Hanson, and Rogelio Gonzalez also saw action in relief.

Roberts led Dickinson State at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Jace Buchanan added a single in the eighth. The Blue Hawks were limited to just three hits in the game and committed three errors defensively.

Townsend finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a stolen base to lead Bellevue. Hansen was 3-for-6 with three RBIs, and Elsner drove in five on his pair of home runs. Makarus and Lacey also recorded multi-hit games, and the Bruins stole two bases and drew no walks in the contest.

Bellevue outhit Dickinson State 17-3 and held a 15-6 advantage in assists. The Bruins were also efficient in the field, committing just one error on the afternoon.