Feb. 19, 2010
Box
Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont
baseball opened the 2010 season with an 8-6 win over Evansville on
Friday night at Shelby Park. The victory marked the eighth
consecutive season that Belmont won its season opener.
Junior Nate Woods started on
the mound for the Bruins and finished with the win in his first
appearance since April, 2009 when his season ended early due to
injury. Despite giving up two runs in the first inning, Woods went
on to pitch six scoreless innings -- retiring the side in four of
those innings -- before leaving after the eighth.
"Nate got off to a shaky start
in the first inning and it's been many months since he has been in
this type of situation," Head Coach David Jarvis said.
"I was really encouraged with his performance on the mound after
seeing him go through that first inning and coming back throw six
consecutive goose eggs."
The Bruin offense helped his
cause with a bases-load walk by Derek Hamblen to
score Packy
Elkins, who led off the innings with a single. Senior Mark Noth again started
the second inning off with a single while eventually scoring on a
fielder's choice RBI from Dylan
Craig.
In Belmont's two-run third
inning junior college transfer Tim Egerton drove
home Woods on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly. Later, Hamblen scored
on a fielder's choice issued by Noth to give Belmont a 4-2
lead.
In all, Belmont tallied 11
hits as four Bruins registered two hits, led by junior Derek Hamblen's
2-for-3 performance with two RBI. Freshman first baseman Judah Akers went
2-for-4 in his first start as a Bruin, Elkins scored two runs on
two hits in the Bruins' leadoff spot, and catcher Matt Zeblo went
2-for-5 at the plate.
Evansville scored three runs
in the eighth, but closer Jon Ivie was able to
hold the Purple Aces at bay to receive the save -- the second of
his career. Ivie faced four batters in the ninth, recording one
strikeout.
Former All-Missouri Valley
reliever Tom Heithoff started for Evansville to receive the loss.
Heithoff went six innings allowing seven hits and four earned runs.
Greg Wallace led the Purple Aces with two RBI without recording a
hit.
Belmont will conclude the
series with Evansville on Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at
noon. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Dane Swinehart is
scheduled to start the first game, while freshman lefty Chase Brookshire
will take to the mound for the first time in the second
game.
"It's good to get the first
game under your belt and an opening day win, hopefully we can build
on that," Jarvis said. "Tomorrow is going to be an important day
because I feel like Evansville is going to get better each time
they play because this was the first time they had been on the
field this season."
Both games can be heard on the
Bruins Sports Network with Rich Tiner at the mic for the
play-by-play.
