Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nick Egli's (Brentwood, Tenn.) two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth pushed the Bruins past Mercer, 6-5 Saturday afternoon.
Mercer struck first behind a leadoff home run from Sasha LaGarde. The Bears extended their lead to 4-0 after adding three more runs in the second.
Brennan Washington (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) recorded his first collegiate hit with a leadoff single in the fifth, and went on to steal second. An RBI single from Drew Ferguson (Knoxville, Tenn.) scored Washington and put the Bruins on the board. A sacrficie fly from Jamie Ritchie (Buford, Ga.) brought home Alec Diamond (Kennesaw, Ga.) and cut the deficit to two runs.
Behind a two-run homer from William Dodd (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) in the sixth, Belmont tied the game, 4-4.
The tied game was short-lived as Mercer's Charlie Madden hit a solo home run in the seventh to put the Bears back on top, 5-4.
Egli came off the bench in the bottom of the eighth to hit a two-run shot and give the Bruins back the lead.
The Belmont pitching staff was solid throughout as no walks were allowed.Patrick McGrath (Jackson, Tenn.) went 6.2 innings on the mound while striking out three. Christopher Carroll (Hendersonville, Tenn.) came on in relief in the bottom of the seventh and did not allow a hit. Greg Brody (Dacula, Ga.) picked up his third save of the season after coming in for the ninth and shutting down three straight Mercer batters.
Belmont (6-4) and Mercer (9-2) will conclude the series tomorrow at 12:00pm. The game will be available on OVC Digital Network and the Bruins Sports Network.
