Feb. 28, 2010
Box
Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In an extra
inning thriller Belmont baseball completed a three-game sweep of
Eastern Illinois and continued an undefeated start with a 12-11 win
in 10-innings on Sunday afternoon.
After Belmont gave up two
leads throughout a game which featured 23 runs, 23 hits, and 12
errors, it was sophomore Dylan Craig who drove
in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th. Craig hit a
bases-loaded single that evaded EIU second baseman Daniel Rowe to
score Mark Noth
from third.
Craig went 2-for-5 from the
plate to extend his hitting streak to five games.
Four Bruins made their first
appearance of the season on the mound in relief but it was Jon Ivie (2-0) who
earned the victory after pitching 2 2/3 innings with one earned
run. Junior Tim
Egerton had a season-high in hits after going 3-for-4 from the
plate with two RBI.
Belmont (6-0) continues its
best start in six years after winning the last five games by one
run. The Bruins' six-game winning streak is the first since early
March of 2006, and it marks the first time since 2004 that Belmont
has swept back-to-back three-game series to begin the season; the
2004 squad started 9-0.
"I'm really encouraged by our
attitude in the dugout and the fact that our players are beginning
to believe every time," head coach David Jarvis said.
"That has some carry-over value to it throughout the course of the
season because they will think that to these games that we came
back and won in difficult situations and adversity."
Eastern Illinois committed
seven errors and falls to 0-6 a year removed from winning the Ohio
Valley Conference regular season title.
Belmont took a 2-0 lead in the
second after taking advantage of three Eastern Illinois errors. Nate Woods
reached on a fielding error by the second baseman, then stole
second and advanced to third on an errant throw by the EIU catcher
Rich Ruff. Freshman Judah Akers used an
infield single to drive in Woods, and later scored on a fielder's
choice RBI from Josh Davis.
Eastern Illinois scored four
runs in the third, but starting pitcher Woods left the game with an
8-4 lead after Belmont responded with six runs in the bottom of the
third. Because it was declared a staff day for Belmont, Woods'
three innings made him eligible to be the pitcher of record after
three innings.
Belmont again capitalized on
Eastern Illinois mistakes in the third by scoring on a bases loaded
walk and two wild pitches to take its 8-4 lead. Egerton also drove
in two runs with a bases-loaded double down the left field line and
Davis earned his second RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly to
center field.
Belmont's solid middle relief
kicked in the fourth inning, led by sophomore Garrett Fancheir who
went one inning and retired the side in order. Sophomore Frank Adelman came
in to pitch two innings, striking out three and while allowing no
runs. Freshman Dan Huenecke pitched
the seventh, allowing one unearned run and no hits.
Senior Cameron Heath, who
also made his first appearance of the season, took to the mound in
the eighth inning to allow four runs. With the bases loaded Gerik
Wallsten hit a three-run double down the right field line to give
EIU momentum by cutting Belmont's lead to two.
With one out in the eighth
Ivie entered the game with the tying run on base. Despite allowing
a single to left field to make it 9-10, Ivie was able to keep the
lead with the help of great plays by Packy Elkins at
shortstop to get the final two outs of the inning.
After allowing two runs in the
ninth inning to force the first extra inning game of the season,
Belmont came through in the bottom of the tenth with two hits and
two errors for the walk-off win.
Noth led off with a single
from and advanced to second on a throwing error by EIU third
baseman Zach Borenstein. After a pitching change Elkins walked. Derek Hamblen
and Elkins ran-out an attempted double play to load the bases for
Craig. Craig then hit a chopping single over the second baseman to
score Noth and give Belmont a 12-11 win.
Belmont will travel to Murray,
Ky., on Tuesday to face Murray State in the first road game of the
season. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
