MURRAY, Ky. – Belmont's bats were hot Friday night at Johnny Reagan Field as the Bruins powered past Murray State, 13-2.
The Bruins jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first. Matt Beaty's RBI single drove in Alec Diamond and Drew Ferguson to put BU ahead 2-0. Beaty and Nick Egli scored off a groundout and a Drake Byrd single.
A pair of home runs from Jamie Ritchie and William Dodd in the fifth, extended the Bruins lead to 7-0.
Belmont added four runs off two hits in the sixth, stretching the lead to 11-0. Tyler Walsh led off the inning after reaching on a Murray State error. A hit batman and walk loaded the bases and Ritchie's sacrifice fly plated the first Belmont run of the inning. Dodd was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, allowing Ferguson to cross the plate before Drake Byrd delivered a two-run single.
Murray State loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh and behind a pair of sacrifice flies, the Breds got on the board with two runs.
Ferguson blasted a two-run homer in the ninth to put the Bruins ahead 13-2. That was his tenth home run of the season.
James Buckelew went seven strong innings on the mound for his 52nd career start, putting him second all-time. The left-hander allowed just three hits and struck out six during his outing.
Christopher Carroll and Ben Lovell combined for a perfect two innings of relief for the Bruins. Carroll struck out two and Lovell struck out one.
Belmont will continue the series with Murray State tomorrow at 2:00pm.
