March 19, 2010
Box
Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Belmont
baseball allowed multiple first-inning runs for the third straight
game in a 3-12 loss to Lipscomb on Friday night at Shelby
Park.
Scoring over 10 runs had not
been a problem in three of the last four games for the Belmont
offense, but Friday the Bruins left 10 runners on base in what
turned out to be the second-lowest runs scored this
season.
Sophomore Dylan Craig did his
best to give run support with a two-run homerun in the fifth
inning, making the score 3-8. Craig extended his hitting streak to
10 games and finished with three hits and two RBI. In the third
inning, junior Derek Hamblen drove
in the Bruins' first run of the game on a double down the right
field line to score Mark Noth, who reached
on a walk. Hamblen and Packy Elkins each
finished with two hits.
Junior Nate Woods (1-2) made
his fifth start of the season on the mound, allowing eight runs in
4 2/3 innings to receive the loss. Three Bruins pitched in relief
including freshman Ross Beach who made
his first career appearance to allowing no runs on one hit through
1 1/3 innings.
After Lipscomb allowed
double-digit runs in the last three games, starter Josh Smith (3-1)
held the Bruins to three runs on five strikeouts to earn the
win.
"Josh Smith has a very good
arm," Head Coach David Jarvis said.
"He is one of the better pitchers in the conference, which makes it
difficult to overcome a 0-3 deficit. We were able to overrun his
pitch count at certain points of the game - for the most part we
had pretty decent strike zone discipline. We weren't able to put
enough runs against him to break through and get him out of the
game as early as we were hoping to."
Belmont (11-7, 0-4 A-Sun)
loses its fourth straight conference game after allowing 10 or more
runs for the fifth time in seven games.
"My message to the players was
that whatever has happened is over with," Jarvis said. "We have to
wash this game off and pull ourselves up by the boot straps and get
ready to play tomorrow. It's frustrating, no doubt about it, but we
have to begin the process of turning it around."
Lipscomb (6-11, 1-0) wins its
first conference game of the season with four players recording
multiple hits. Shortstop Zach Messer went 3-for-5 with five
RBI.
The series continues tomorrow
at 2 p.m. at Shelby Park. Come out early as the first 100 fans
receive a free dog and drink. The action can also be heard on the
Bruin Sports Network, with Rich Tiner at play-by-play.
