Box Score EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Behind six runs in the sixth inning, Belmont defeated SIUE, 7-2 Saturday afternoon in the first game of the doubleheader.
In the fourth, SIUE had back-to-back doubles to put the Cougars ahead 2-0.
The Belmont bats got hot in the sixth as the Bruins scored six runs to take a 6-2 lead. Drew Ferguson drew a leadoff walk and proceeded to steal second before advancing to third behind an Alec Diamond single. Matt Beaty drew a walk to load the bases, bringing up Jamie Ritchie. Ritchie's RBI fielder's choice allowed Ferguson to cross the plate and put Belmont on the board, 2-1.
William Dodd's RBI double tied the game and a two-run double from Matthew Kinney gave BU the lead. A two-run single from Ferguson put BU ahead 6-2.
Diamond's sacrifice fly in the eighth scored Drake Byrd to give the Bruins a 7-2 lead. A solo home run from Matthew Kinney in the ninth extended Belmont's lead to 8-2.
SIUE put together a rally in the bottom of the ninth as the Cougars plated three runs to cut Belmont's lead to 8-5.
James Buckelew went seven innings on the mound. The left-hander, who earned his fourth win of the season, allowed two runs and struck out five.
