TACOMA, Wash. – The Bushnell University baseball team broke a scoreless tie with a combined five runs in the seventh and eighth innings, and held NCAA Division II Saint Martin's to just three hits in the 5-1 non-conference victory. 
 
Nate Rasmussen pitched 5.2 scoreless innings for the Beacons, not allowing a hit in the outing. Tied at 0-0, Daniel Furman (1-1) got the final out in the sixth before throwing a scoreless seventh and eighth. Rasmussen and Furman were combining for a no-hitter until a two-out single in the eighth.
 
Rasmussen said, "My defense played outstanding today and Reed was money behind the plate. Made my job easy. I love this team and everything we showed today."
 
The Beacon scoring came late, starting with two runs in the top of the seventh. Reece Carganilla drove in both with a single to left field, scoring Cade Crist and Brandon Reed, who got into scoring position after a throwing error.
 
Bushnell made it a 5-0 lead in the eighth on a two-out rally. Brendan Frazier hit a double to left center before crossing home on an RBI-single from Crist. Reed kept the momentum going with a two-run homer over the right field fence.
 
The Saints, who recorded their first hit of the game in the bottom of the eighth, threatened for the first time in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with two outs. One run scored on a wild pitch, but Colby Knutzen responded with a strikeout to limit the damage.
 
Reed said, "We came together today for a great team win. We stayed to the process offensively and scratched some key runs late. Rasmussen was lights out and competed harder than anyone. We have to continue that process going into future weeks."
 
Justice Yamashita threw six scoreless innings for Saint Martin's, giving up five hits. Mark Steward broke up the combined no-hitter.
 
The Beacons (5-4) held the Saints to just three hits, a season best.   
 
Up Next: Bushnell hosts the University of British Columbia for a four-game non-conference series on Feb. 23-24.