CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Behind a pair of home runs from Jamie Ritchie (Buford, Ga.) and Jared Breen (Marietta, Ga.) and a solid outing from starter Dan Ludwig (Naperville, Ill.), Belmont Baseball (27-9, 14-2) defeated Austin Peay, 5-2 on Friday night.
Drew Turner (Shelbyville, Tenn.) got the first hit of the day for the Bruins as he successfully laid down a bunt single in the top of the second, and advanced to second on a throwing error. An RBI single from Scott Moses (Englewood, Tenn.) scored Turner to put the Bruins on ahead 1-0.
Austin Peay tied the ball game at 1-1 behind a double from Craig Massoni. The Governors took a 2-1 lead after an RBI groundout from Cody Hudson.
Ritchie's home run over the right field wall tied the game in the fifth. That was the catcher's second homer of the season. He hit his first at Middle Tennessee on Tuesday.
In the top of the sixth, Breen blasted his second home run of the season to put the Bruins ahead, 3-2.
The Governors posted a threat in the seventh with the bases loaded and two outs, but Ludwig pitched out of the jam, recording his seventh strikeout of the game.
Alec Diamond (Kennesaw, Ga.) singled over the head of APSU's first baseman to score Ritchie from second and put the Bruins on top, 4-2 in the top of the eighth.
Belmont took a 5-2 lead on a groundout by Moses to score Turner, who led off the eighth with a double.
Ludwig (8-1) went seven innings on the mound. He gave up three hits and two runs while striking out seven and only walking one.
Moses came to the mound in the ninth, earning his fourth save of the season.
Belmont will continue the series at Austin Peay tomorrow for a 2:00pm start.
