Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- Despite scoring seven runs in the top of the eighth to tie the game 9-9; the Bruins fall in the Battle of the Boulevard to Lipscomb 10-9 on Tuesday.
Sophomore Nick Egli (Brentwood, Tenn.) went 2-5 at the plate with two solid outings; a single in the top of the first to plate a runner and a double in the top of the eighth to start a momentous rally.
The Bruins jumped on the bit early in the game when Alec Diamond (Kennesaw, Ga.) led off the first inning with a single to center field. After a walk and hit-by-pitch. Tyler Walsh (Evansville, Ind.) placed a sacrifice fly to center field to score the first run of the game. Nick Egli delivered at the plate with an RBI single to plate the second run.
Retaliating in the bottom of the first, the Bison's scored three runs to take the lead on the Bruins. Lipscomb then held the Bruins to 6 scoreless innings while tacking on an additional 6 runs.
Entering the top of the eighth Belmont trailed Lipscomb 9-2. The score did not stop the Bruins for attempting the unimaginable. In the top of the eighth, the real game action began.
Matt Beaty led off the inning with a 4 ball walk to reach base followed by a hit by pitch. With runners on first and second, Nick Egli hit a 2 run double down the left field line to ignite the Bruin bats. Desi Ammons (Hohenwald, Tenn.) came in to pinch hit and delivered with a blooper to right field. With runners on the corners, Drake Byrd (Pigeon Forge, Tenn.) came in to hit in the 9-hole and drew a walk to load the bases. Alec Diamond followed and drew a 6 pitch walk to plate a runner. With two outs and bases loaded, Drew Ferguson (Knoxville, Tenn.) hit a single to the left side to chip away another run. Lipscomb tried to stop the momentum with a pitching change.
After leading off earlier in the inning, Beaty returned to the plate and delivered with a 2 run single to right center to bring the game within one run. With Runners then on the corners, Tyler Fullerton (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) hit a single through the left side to plate the tying run. The Bruins were able to tie the game 9-9 in the top of the eighth. The Bruins pushed 7 runs across the plate on 6 hits to make up for the 6 inning deficit.
Although the goal in the bottom of the ninth was to hold Lipscomb scoreless, two errors in the bottom of the 9th allowed the Bisons to take the 10-9 walk off win over the Bruins.
It was a great effort put forth by the Bruins. They will have a chance next week to split the home and home series when they host Lipscomb at Rose Park. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 PM on Tuesday, March 31st.
The Bruins travel to Martin, Tenn. on Friday for Ohio Valley Conference play as they face UT Martin in a three-game series. The Bruins look improve on their 5-0 record in the OVC.
Make sure to follow belmontbruins.com for information on the weekend series.
