May 3, 2010
Belmont (22-24, 9-11 A-Sun) |
North Florida (22-20, 10-7 A-Sun)
Game 1: Belmont 4, North
Florida 1 | Box
Score
Game 2: Belmont 15, North Florida 9 | Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Belmont
dismantled the Atlantic Sun's second-place team, North Florida, in
a doubleheader on Monday afternoon, 4-1 and 15-9, at Ken Dugan
Field as junior Nate Woods became a
Belmont single-season record holder in two categories.
But after a weekend of
torrential downpour and deadly flooding in Nashville, even playing
was a feat for the Bruins and Ospreys. Belmont's home field of
Shelby Park was swallowed up by the flood waters of the Cumberland
River which reached heights not seen for 50 years and made playing
baseball there an afterthought. Then Lipscomb, normally a bitter
rival in competition, stepped in and opened its doors to help
Belmont and UNF complete a doubleheader at Ken Dugan Field in lieu
of the three washed-out weekend games.
"Lipscomb University, head
coach (Jeff) Forehand, and his staff, have been outstanding by
lending their facility to make these games happen so that we didn't
lose an entire conference weekend," Head Coach David Jarvis said.
"Even though it is a very heated rivalry on the field with Lipscomb
and Belmont, they were exemplary of the Christian values that both
institutions stand for."
As play started and throughout
the game the weather was 75 degrees, sunny and relatively dry -
paradise compared to what the Middle Tennessee area endured
throughout the weekend. And on the field, the Bruins didn't
disappoint.
In game one, Woods went
2-for-4 with all four of Belmont's runs batted in to set a
single-season RBI record at 67. Coming into the day the Cedar
Rapids, Iowa native had 63 and passed Derek Wiley (2006-09)
who registered 65 RBI in 2008. With a three-run homerun in the
fifth inning, Woods also tied Wiley's single-season homerun record
of 17, which has now been reached by a Bruin in each of the last
three seasons - all by Wiley and Woods.
Woods (4-5) added seven
innings pitched with just one earned run to earn the win on the
mound in his 11th start of the season. He allowed five hits with
his only run coming off the bat of Justin Preckajlo in the seventh
inning. In his last three starts Woods has a 1.80 ERA, 12
strikeouts and three walks.
"Nate's performance on the
mound in the last month has been a difference maker for us," Jarvis
said. "It gives us a great opportunity to win and today it set the
tone for our bullpen and two wins."
Matt Hamman and Jon Ivie tag-teamed
perfect eighth and ninth innings, respectively, with one strikeout
each to shut the door on the Ospreys. Ivie recorded his
conference-leading eighth save of the season to finish the
game.
UNF's George Lott (5-2) lost
just his second decision of the season, allowing four runs on eight
hits with five strikeouts.
Game two was junior Tim Egerton's time to
shine. The Smyrna, Tenn., native went 4-for-4 at the plate with six
RBI. Egerton set a career-high in runs batted in after driving in
two runners in each of his first three at bats: a single, double
and a single. It is the second time of the season that the
junior-college transfer went a perfect 4-for-4, dating back to
March 13 at Jacksonville.
Junior Derek Hamblen also
had a banner day, going 4-for-6 with four RBI and three runs
scored. Freshman Jared Breen continues
his hot-streak with a 3-for-5 performance with two runs and two
RBI.
Although UNF had two homeruns
to Belmont's none, the Bruins scored in every inning except one
during the second game to score 15 or more runs for the fourth time
this season.
Freshman Chase Brookshire
(5-2) started game two for the Bruins and pitched six innings with
no walks to receive the win. Michael Kelly (4-6) started for the
Ospreys and allowed seven runs on seven hits through 3 1/3 innings
to receive the loss.
The Bruins take a week off for
final exams before a road game with Tennessee Martin on Tuesday,
May 12.
