Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 BUIES CREEK, NC. – The Belmont baseball team (23-18, 12-9) defeated Campbell (15-28, 2-19) in both ends of a doubleheader on the road Saturday to complete the sweep of the Camels. Junior Matt Hamann (Northbrook, Ill.) struck out seven Campbell batters while recording his second straight complete game for the Bruins 7-2 win in the first tilt. The Bruins scored early and often in the second game, winning it 12-8.
The Bruins got the scoring started early in the first game, putting up three runs in the second inning. Freshman Greg Brody (Dacula, Ga.) drove in two runs with a single to center field, and after sophomore Jared Breen (Marietta, Ga.) singled through the left side of the infield, junior Zac Mitchell (Cordova, Tenn.) singled up the middle to score Bordy.
Senior Matt Zeblo (Raleigh, N.C.), who led off the second with a walk, started off the third by getting hit by a pitch. The catcher then scored from first to make it 4-0 when Brody hit a long double to left field. After advancing to third on a failed pickoff attempt by the Camels, Brody scored on an infield single from Breen to increase the BU lead to five.
After the Camels countered with two runs in the bottom of the third, the two teams went scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings. Belmont then added two runs to extend their lead in the sixth to 7-2 on a trio of singles. Breen singled to left center and then stole second base. Senior Derek Hamblen (Plano, Texas) then drove him in on a single, before scoring himself on a base hit from senior Nate Woods (Cedar Rapids, Iowa).
Hamann, who was named Atlantic Sun Conference Pitcher of the Week for his complete game shutout against ETSU last week, allowed only one hit after the first batter of the fourth inning to lead the Bruins to the victory. The right-hander improves to 5-1 on the season and now holds an ERA of 2.43.
The combination of Brody and Breen led BU at the plate in the front half of the doubleheader. The former went three for four with two runs and three runs batted in, while the latter was a perfect four for four with an RBI and a run scored.
BU started the scoring early in the second game with four runs thanks to three errors by the Camels in the second inning. Senior Tim Egerton (Smyrna, Tenn.) led off with a single up the middle, and was driven in by Breen who reached base on an error. Breen and Brody, who also reached on an error, then scored on one swing of the bat as Mitchell singled to left field. Junior Dylan Craig (Signal Mountain, Tenn.) finished the scoring with a single up the middle that scored Mitchell.
After letting the Camels cut the lead to one at 4-3, Belmont put another four runs on the board in the fourth to take an 8-3 lead. Mitchell started the rally with a double down the right field line, and after advancing to third on a wild pitch, he scored when Craig singled up the middle. Woods drove in Craig with another Bruin single, before he and Hamblen scored on a wild pitch and passed ball, respectively.
The Bruins put the game out of reach in the top of the eighth when Egerton recorded his team-leading seventh home run of the season. The Belmont right-fielder's shot cleared the left field fence, driving in three runs to give BU a 12-6 lead. Craig and Hamblen, who reached base on singles earlier in the inning, both scored on the play.
Craig, Woods, Egerton and Mitchell all had three hits in the second game to lead Belmont at the plate. Egerton and Mitchell each drove in three runs, while Craig recorded two RBI in the victory. Sophomore Josh Davis (Fayetteville, Ga.) recorded the win for the Bruins, improving to 4-0 on the year, while junior Garrett Fanchier (Lebanon, Tenn.) tallied three innings of one run baseball in relief.
The Bruins, who have now won seven straight A-Sun Conference games, will next return home for a non-conference contest with Austin Peay. The game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the brand new E.S. Rose Park in Nashville.
