March 26, 2010
Box
Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nate Woods tied a
career-high of six strikeouts through seven innings to set the pace
for Belmont's 8-5 series-opening win over USC Upstate on Friday
night at Shelby Park.
"This was another step in
Nate's progress of fully returning," Head Coach David Jarvis said.
"I've seen a lot of progress in his last two outings and to have
him return to form is a real important factor for us this season.
He has the ability to be a number-one starter in this conference
and give us a great opportunity to win, just like he did
tonight."
Returning from a 2009 season
which was mired with injury, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa native threw
seven innings and allowed no earned runs in his sixth start of the
season. Woods earned his first win since opening day against
Evansville (2/19) with season lows of three hits, one walk, as well
as the aforementioned earned runs and strikeouts.
The Bruins supported Woods'
start with four multi-hit games, led by three runs batted in by Tim Egerton on
2-of-5 hitting. Sophomore centerfielder Dylan Craig scored
three runs and extended his hitting streak to 15 games with two
hits in three at bats.
Senior Packy Elkins hit his
second homerun in as many games to give Belmont a 1-0 lead in the
third inning.
But things didn't come that
easy in the field for Belmont on Friday night. Of the Spartans five
runs, not one was earned as the Bruins committed seven fielding
errors - the most since recording six against Lambuth on April 8,
2008.
Woods' scoreless appearance
was broken up in the sixth inning after a trio of consecutive
Belmont errors led to Upstate's first run of the game to break
Woods' scoreless appearance.
With Belmont in front, 8-1,
the Spartans pressed in the ninth inning with four hits and scoring
four runs on two Belmont errors before Jon Ivie closed the game
by forcing two ground-outs to earn his sixth save of the
season.
Belmont will try for its third
consecutive series win over USC Upstate in a doubleheader tomorrow
with beginning at 1 p.m. at Shelby Park.
The action can be heard on the
Bruin Sports Network and viewed on ASun.TV with Rich Tiner at
play-by-play.
