Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont baseball team (13-15, 3-8) dropped its second straight contest against Jacksonville, falling to the Dolphins by a score of 13-2 on Saturday afternoon at Shelby Park. Freshman Greg Brody (Dacula, Ga.) drove in both of the Bruin runs with his second homer of the year.
Belmont had failed to score off of Jacksonville starter, Matthew Tomshaw, who went eight shutout innings before handing the ball off to reliever Joe Ryan. Senior Nate Woods (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) doubled to left field to record his third hit of the game and get the Bruin offense started in the bottom of the ninth inning. After a pinch hit strikeout by freshman Daley Hill (Brentwood, Tenn.), Brody connected with a bomb over the left field fence to knock in BU's only two runs of the game.
Belmont finished with 10 hits in the game, but could not put anything together, also leaving 10 runners on base. Woods led the way with a three for three day, including the aforementioned double. Sophomore Judah Akers (Cookeville, Tenn.) added two hits of his own in the defeat.
Woods stayed in the game after getting relieved of his pitching duties in the fourth inning. The right hander allowed nine runs, only five of which were earned, giving up 10 hits while striking out one and walking two in three and two thirds innings pitched.
After a couple other Bruins pitched their way into three more runs over the next inning and a third, freshman Blake Harvey (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) pitched the final four innings successfully. The righty allowed only one run on four hits, while striking out two and walking only one to hold the Dolphins to a total of 13 runs on the day.
Jacksonville benefited from an outstanding start by Tomshaw, but also received plenty of outstanding offensive performances. Jonathan Murphy went five for six on the day, with a double, two runs batted in, and two runs scored. Adam Brett Walker finished with four RBI on three hits, including one of two JU home runs in the victory.
The Dolphins finished with 13 runs on 17 hits and two errors, while Belmont totaled two runs on 10 hits and two errors. Tomshaw improved to 3-2 on the season with the win, while Woods fell to 2-5 with the loss.
The two teams will meet again on Sunday for the final game of the Atlantic Sun Conference series. The contest is set to start at 12:05 p.m. at Shelby Park in Nashville.
