NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont Baseball (36-16, 21-6) fell to No. 1 Vanderbilt, 6-1 on Tuesday night at Hawkins Field.
Vanderbilt got on the board in the first inning behind a two-run homer from Kyle Smith, putting the Commodores on top, 2-0.
A single from John Norwood added another run for the 'Dores before Tony Kemp hit a two-out triple to the right field corner to extend Vanderbilt's lead to 5-0.
The Bruins threatened in the sixth as Drew Turner (Shelbyville, Tenn.) reached on a fielder's choice and Matt Beaty (Dresden, Tenn.) singled up the middle, but a ground out ended the inning and left the runners stranded. Vanderbilt took a 6-0 lead in the bottom half of the inning.
Drew Ferguson (Knoxville, Tenn.) crossed the plate for Belmont in the top of the eighth, behind a ground out from Beaty.
In the top of the ninth, pinch hitters threatened the 'Dores. A single from Austin Loyd (Snellville, Ga.) and a double from Neil Hickman (Hermitage, Tenn.) put runners on second and third with just one out, but Belmont left the runners stranded.
Zach Hodgkiss (Eads, Tenn.) registered a career outing with three innings of work and three strikeouts.
Jessie Snodgrass (Lebanon, Tenn.) recorded his 40th appearance of the season. He saw one inning of relief, striking out one.
Josh Davis (Fayetteville, Ga.) took the hill in the eighth. The right hander pitched out of a bases loaded jam and registered a pair of strikeouts.
The Bruins will travel to Cookeville, Tenn. for a three-game series with Tennessee Tech. The series, which will determine the OVC Regular Season Champion, begins on Thursday at 6:00p.m.
