NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Behind four home runs, Belmont pushed past Evansville, 12-7 Wednesday afternoon at Rose Park.
Evansville struck first behind a two-run homer from Max Foley in the second, but that would be the only lead the Aces would see.
Back-to-back home runs from Matthew Kinney (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Tyler Walsh (Evansville, Ind.) in the bottom of the third tied the game. Jamie Ritchie (Buford, Ga.) hit a double down the left field line and crossed the plate on an RBI single from Greg Brody (Dacula, Ga.), putting the Bruins on top 3-2. Brody proceeded to steal second and scored off a Nick Egli (Brentwood, Tenn.) RBI single.
With two outs, the Bruins added four runs in the bottom half of the fourth. A single from Walsh and a double from Alec Diamond (Kennesaw, Ga.) put runners in scoring position for Matt Beaty (Dresden, Tenn.) who singled to center allowing both runners to score. Ritchie hit a two-run shot over the center field fence to extend Belmont's lead to 8-2.
Belmont plated four more runs in the fifth extending its lead to 12-2. Brennan Washington (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) scored the first run of the inning after a balk by Evansville. Diamond's sacrifice fly plated Kinney before Beaty hit a two-run shot to left.
Evansville got a run across in the sixth. The Aces threatened by loading the bases, but the Belmont staff pitched out of the jam. In the eighth, the Aces pushed across four runs to cut Belmont's lead to five, 12-7.
The Belmont pitching staff scattered eight hits and struck out nine.
Belmont will remain home, hosting OVC foe, UT Martin for a three-game series beginning Friday at 4:00pm.
