JACKSON, Tenn. -- Belmont Baseball (38-20) fell to Southeast Missouri, 2-1 on Friday in the OVC Tournament.
Belmont gave up an unearned run in the first inning, and simply labored to generate enough scoring chances against SEMO starter Alex Winkelman.
With senior closer Josh Davis (Fayetteville, Ga.) making a rare start, and fighting well to keep the Bruins in the game, Belmont mustered a chance in the top of the sixth.
After a leadoff single by Drew Turner (Shelbyville, Tenn.), a fielder choice and stolen base by Drew Ferguson (Knoxville, Tenn.), and a walk by Jared Breen (Marietta, Ga.), Matt Beaty (Dresden, Tenn.) hit a sharp chopper up the middle, which challenged the SEMO infield. The Redhawk second baseman juggled initially, and as he recovered, a huge pileup at second base ensued amongst the SEMO middle infielders and Breen.
Though Ferguson advanced and Beaty reached base, Breen was ruled out at second base.
Judah Akers (Cookeville, Tenn.) was then retired to end the Belmont threat.
And despite a SEMO run being taken off the board in the bottom half of the frame on an apparent sacrifice fly - as Dalton Hewitt was deemed to have left third base early - consecutive Redhawk base hits off reliever Dom Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) netted SEMO's second run.
Belmont continued to battle, and caused SEMO closer Bobby Hurst great bother in the ninth. A leadoff single from Beaty and a one-out single from Alec Diamond started the comeback effort. A wild pitch and a Spencer Petett (Tompkinsville, Ky.) walk opened the door for Jamie Ritchie (Buford, Ga.).
The Bruin catcher lined a Hurst offering directly at the SEMO left fielder for a sacrifice fly, cutting the margin in half.
But an infield pop-up ended the game, and tournament run.
During the 2013 season, the Bruins recorded a program best 37 regular season wins, including a win over nationally-ranked Mercer. The seven seniors: Akers, Breen, Chase Brookshire, Davis, Dan Huenecke, Jessie Snodgrass and Turner, won 115 games in the last three years and a total of 142 games.
