Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Behind a triple in the first inning from senior Judah Akers, sophomore Scott Moses scored the first run for the Bruins in 2013. The Belmont Bruins (1-0, 0-0), defeated Valparaiso, 4-3.
Senior Chase Brookshire (1-0) earned the start and the win for the Bruins. He struck out the first side and in the second, the left-hander struck out the first two batters before giving up his only walk of the outing. Brookshire then picked off a runner to end the inning, to maintain Belmont's 1-0 lead over the Crusaders.
"I think you have to look to Chase Brookshire's performance and the start he gave us," said head coach Dave Jarvis. "He gave our offense an opportunity to chip away and scratch out some runs. Valpo's starter [Kyle Wormington] was very good. He did a tremendous job for them on the mound, kept our hitters off balance and pitched his way out of trouble."
Through five innings, Brookshire struck out eight and gave up three hits.
"You really have to give a lot of credit to Chase and the five innings he gave us and our defense and the way they played behind him," said Jarvis.
Behind a Neil Hickman double, Josh Davis crossed the plate to put Belmont up 2-0 in the fourth.
Senior Jessie Snodgrass came on to relieve Brookshire in the sixth inning. Snodgrass continued to keep Valparaiso scoreless. The right hander struck out a pair of batters and gave up two hits in his 1.1 innings of work.
Josh Davis, who started game as the designated hitter, saw some action on the mound tonight. The senior right hander avoided a bases loaded situation to hold Belmont's lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, freshman Dom Veltri singled up the middle for his first collegiate hit in the bottom of the seventh. Moses and sophomore Jamie Ritchie scored for the Bruins to extend their lead, 4-0.
Moses, who started at the short stop position, took the mound for the Bruins in the ninth to strike out the first batter he faced in the 2013 season. After walking one and hitting a batter, the right hander gave up the first run of the game.
Despite a late rally from Valparaiso who scored two runs in the top of the ninth, to make it a one-run ballgame, the Bruins held off the Crusaders to win, 4-3, on opening day.
"We've been working hard for so long, so it's good to go ahead and get that first win out of the way," said Brookshire.
