Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont Baseball (9-4, 0-1) dropped their conference opener to Southeast Missouri, 1-0, on Friday night at E.S. Rose Park.
Senior left hander Chase Brookshire (Chattanooga, Tenn.) went nine innings on the mound and set a career high of 11 strikeouts.
The left hander gave up leadoff double to start the game but proceeded to strike out three consecutive batters on his way to a career high day.
In the fourth inning, Southeast Missouri's Branden Baggetto doubled to left center to score the first run of the game to put the Redhawks up 1-0. In the bottom half, Josh Davis (Fayetteville, Ga.) singled to center followed by a sacrifice bunt from Jared Breen (Marietta, Ga.), advancing Davis.
Matt Beaty (Dresden, Tenn.) drew a walk and Neil Hickman (Hermitage, Tenn.) reached on an error by SEMO's third baseman to load the bases bringing Jaime Ritchie (Burford, Ga.) to the plate. Ritchie grounded out to the shortstop leaving three stranded.
Drew Ferguson (Knoxville, Tenn.) drew a leadoff walk to start the eighth inning, forcing SEMO to go to their bullpen bringing on Tony Zerrusen to replace starter Will Spitzfaden. The lefty went seven innings giving up three hits, five walks and striking out only one.
Drew Turner (Shelbyville, Tenn.) had a sacrifice bunt to advance Ferguson and bring Judah Akers (Cookeville, Tenn.) to the plate with one out, but he flew out to center field. As Davis stepped up to the plate, the Redhawks went back to their bullpen to bring on left hander Skylar Cobb. Davis grounded out to the first baseman, stranding Ferguson.
In the bottom of the ninth, SEMO brought on reliever Bobby Hurst. Beaty drew another walk followed by a single to right center with one out from Scott Moses (Englewood, Tenn.) but the Bruins couldn't put anyone across the plate.
Davis led BU at the plate going 2-for-3. Moses and Turner each added a hit for the Bruins.
Belmont will be back in action tomorrow afternoon with a 1:00 pm start.
