March 17, 2010
Box
Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Belmont
baseball scored the most runs since 2007 to defeat Cleveland State,
18-11, and snap a six-game losing streak on Wednesday afternoon at
Shelby Park.
Junior right-handed pitcher Dalton Bell
(1-0) made his first appearance in three years to earn the win.
Bell's 2007 season was cut short due to injury and Wednesday marked
the culmination of nearly three years of rehabilitation, starting
the game and going three innings with two strikeouts on a staff day
for Belmont.
"I was really pleased with
Dalton's performance," Head Coach David Jarvis said.
"It had been a long spell for him, so we needed to get him back out
there. I was really happy with his velocity and execution; it
wasn't outstanding but from where he was coming from I wasn't
disappointed with the job that he did. He has got good
stuff."
Offensively, the Bruins
reached 18 runs for the first time in since an 18-5 win over No. 23
Stetson on May 25, 2007. It is the third time in four games that
the Bruins have scored over 10 runs, hitting a combined .364 with
seven homeruns during that stretch.
Wednesday's win also marked
Belmont's first victory in seven games, snapping a six game losing
streak after the starting 10-0 for the first time in program
history.
Junior Nate Woods had a
career day at the plate, driving in a career-high five runs and
scoring a career-high four runs. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa native went
3-for-5, including a three-run homerun in the third inning - his
sixth of the season.
Junior Matt Zeblo scored a
career-high three runs, going 2-for-3 at the plate to tie a
career-high of three RBI for the seventh time.
The top of the first mirrored
the start of yesterday's close 7-8 loss to the Vikings, as
Cleveland State put up four runs to take the early lead. But the
Bruins responded differently this time around, not only to tie CSU
at 4-4 in the bottom of the first, but scoring 15 runs in the first
four innings to take a 15-7 lead.
"Our kids came back and didn't
panic," Jarvis said. "They were pretty methodical offensively and
came back out to match Cleveland State's four-spot in the bottom of
the first. We had a really mature mental approach in which the lead
and the score didn't matter; we were consistently giving quality at
bats."
Belmont drew a season-high of
11 walks as evidence to many quality at bats. Through the first
four innings the Bruins send at least eight batters to the
plate.
Cleveland State (2-9) out-hit
Belmont 17-16 and featured two players with four hits. Leadoff
hitter Alex Johnson went 4-for-6 with four runs scored and catcher
Kyle Shaffer added four RBI and a 4-for-5 performance at the plate.
Joey Gradney (0-2) pitched one inning for the Vikings and gave up
five runs to receive the loss.
Belmont (11-6) resumes
conference play on Friday to being a three-game series with Belmont
Boulevard rival, Lipscomb. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Shelby
Park.
"Every conference weekend is
so crucial because it is such a close league," said Jarvis.
"Anything can happen on any given weekend, no matter who is playing
each other. When you add to the mix the fact that it is Belmont and
Lipscomb it adds another incentive to the situation. We have always
had great games with Lipscomb and I expect this weekend to be no
different."
