Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Belmont baseball team defeated No. 4/5 and defending national champion Vanderbilt, 3-2, Tuesday night at Vanderbilt's Hawkins Field. This is the highest ranked opponent Belmont has defeated in any sport since going Division I.
The Bruins held the game close with the Commodores as both teams headed into the eighth inning. Senior Matt Beaty's solo home run in the top of the eighth inning was the difference for the Bruins in the victory. Patrick McGrath (Jackson, Tenn.) made his ninth appearance on the mound and gave the Bruins a solid start against the Commodores. In seven innings of work, McGrath struck out 6 batters and intentionally walked one. He was jsut one strikeout shy of tying his season record in strikeouts.
Although the Bruins had many attempts at runners on base, it was not until the fourth inning that the Bruins tacked a run on the board. In the top of the fourth, William Dodd (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) reached base first due to a hit by pitch, he picked up his second stolen base of the season when he stole second. With two outs, freshman Kyle Conger (Brentwood, Tenn.) stepped to the plate and delivered with an RBI double to plate Dodd and tie the game at 1-1 heading into the bottom half of the inning.
Vandy plates a run in the fourth off a sacrifice fly to regain the lead on the Bruins.
The Bruins once again tied the game up in the sixth with Tyler Walsh (Evansville, Ind.) hitting a solo home run over the left field wall, his third home run of the season.
It wasn't until the eighth when Matt Beaty delivered with a lead off home run over the left field wall to take the first Bruins lead against Vanderbilt.
Belmont sent out Matthew Kinney (Alpharetta, Ga.) to close on the mound. Kinney struck out four and held the Commodores to two scoreless innings picking up the save.
Patrick McGrath earned the win in his seven inning outing and improves his record to 4-2.
Make sure to mark you calendars, the Bruins will host the Vanderbilt Commodores on 4/28 at Rose Park.
Belmont (19-15) returns to the road tomorrow to face the Memphis Tigers at FedExPark. Live stats and Audio will be provided on the Bruin Sports Network.
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