NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont battled back Saturday night at Rose Park, but Jacksonville State's tally in the eighth inning proved decisive in a 6-5 decision.
Jacksonville State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, but the Bruins responded in the bottom half. Matt Beaty doubled to right center to drive in Alec Diamond, for the first Belmont run. Nick Egli's RBI single scored Beaty and put BU within one.
A solo home run from Drew Ferguson in the third tied the game at 3-3.
Belmont took the lead in the fifth behind an RBI single from Beaty. The Gamecocks responded with a pair of runs in the sixth to take a one-run lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, an RBI single from Jamie Ritchie scored Ferguson, tying the game at 5-5. Jacksonville State plated one in the eighth, which proved to be the game-winning run.
The Bruins will conclude the series with Jacksonville State tomorrow at 1:00pm.
