Box Score JACKSON, Tenn.-- Despite stranding 22 base-runners, the Belmont Bruins rode the shoulders of Matthew Kinney's suburb relief pitching performance to a 9-7 11-inning victory over SIUE in the first round of the OVC Tournament. The Bruins will now face No. 1 seed Southeast Missouri on Thursday at 7:00PM.
Matthew Kinney (Alpharetta, Ga.) pitched four and two third innings for the Bruins in relief on Wednesday. Kinney gave up only one earned run on three hits and struck out five batters faced.
Senior Drew Ferguson (Knoxville, Tenn.) went five for seven at the plate scoring two runs. Ferguson had a double, a couple singles and picked up another stolen base. Senior Matt Beaty (Dresden, Tenn.) went three for six at the plate with an RBI. He hit his fourth triple of the season and also picked up another stolen base.
Every time the Bruins were able to score a run, SIUE countered with runs of thier own like any good ball team. It was not until the ninth when the Bruins scored two runs and were able to hold on to thier lead. The Bruins scored the two runs on a pair of wild pitches to take the 9-7 lead in the top of the 11th. With Kinney still on the mound, he walked a batter before retiring the next three batters faced.
This is the second time the Bruins have beat the Cougars in extra innings. Last time was at Rose Park on April fourth. The Bruins pulled out the 7-6 victory in the tenth inning.
Join us back at the Ballpark in Jackson tomorrow as the Bruins face the No. 1 seed Southeast Missouri at 7:00PM. The game will be covered on both the Bruin Sports Network as well as the OVC Digital Network. For more information follow belmontbruins.com or @BelmontBaseball on Twitter.
