April 1, 2010
Box
Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - Belmont
baseball opened a three-game conference series at Kennesaw State
with a 14-3 loss on Thursday night at Stillwell Stadium.
Kennesaw State (12-16, 3-4
A-Sun) rode the momentum of a 7-4 win over No. 2 Georgia Tech last
night to record a season-high 16 hits against Belmont, along with a
strong pitching outing from Ryan Rodebaugh. The Owls' starter
lasted seven innings with nine strikeouts and allowed two earned
runs.
Belmont (15-12, 4-6) was led
by senior Mark
Noth who went 2-for-4 with two doubles and one run batted in.
Junior Matt
Zeblo recorded his second homerun of the season in the second
inning and finished 2-for-4. After ending a 17-game hitting streak
against Murray State on Tuesday, sophomore Dylan Craig went
hitless (0-for-3) in consecutive games for just the second time in
his 85 career games played.
To begin the new month of
April, the Bruins used a new starting lineup as Craig led off for
the first time of the season and sophomore Dane Swinehart
made his first career start in the infield at first base. The order
of Belmont's first four batters hadn't changed in 23 games prior to
Thursday night.
Despite the lineup changes
Kennesaw State took an early 4-0 lead in the first inning which
included a two-run homerun by Ross Tendler - one of five homeruns
the Owls hit against the Bruins.
Zeblo put the Bruins on the
board with a leadoff homerun in the second inning but the Bruins
ended the inning with the bases loaded following an error, a walk
and a hit-by-pitch.
Two Belmont doubles in the
fourth inning would put the Bruins within one at 3-4. Junior Tim Egerton led
off the inning with a two-baser, as Noth drove him in with an RBI
double to left-centerfield. With two outs, a KSU error by the
shortstop allowed Noth to score from second.
The Owls took control in the
bottom of the fourth with five runs on four hits and one Belmont
error to take a 9-3 lead.
Five Bruins took the mound as
junior Nate
Woods fell to 2-3 on the season after allowing nine runs and
striking out two in his seventh start of the season. KSU's
Rodebaugh received the win to improve to 2-3.
The Bruins return to action
tomorrow at Stillwell Stadium in a doubleheader with the Owls
beginning at 2 p.m. CT. Coverage can be heard on the Bruin Sports
Network via belmontbruins.com.
