Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Behind a quality pitching performance from senior ace Aaron Quillen (Kingsport, Tenn.) and some timely hitting, the Belmont University baseball team held on to defeat visiting UT Martin 10-8, Friday evening at E.S. Rose Park.
The Bruins carried a 10-2 lead into the ninth but the Skyhawks did not quit. They rallied for six runs on six hits in their last at bat and certainly made things interesting. UT Martin had the go-ahead run at the plate but BU managed to escape the late-game threat and snap its three-game skid.
"That last inning describes baseball perfectly," added Quillen." I made good pitches but they hit some bloopers and found some holes, that's just baseball. That was a prime example about how you can't be a head case out there on the mound because things happen like that all the time."
Brennan Washington (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Tyler Walsh (Evansville, Ind.) paced the Bruin offense as they both recorded three hit games. For Washington that was his 11th multi hit game and his third three-hit game, which both are tops on the squad. Paired with an effective offensive output was a strong performance on the mound from Quillen. The senior provided Belmont with eight innings and pitched at least seven innings for the sixth time in seven starts.
"I thought it was an outstanding performance from Aaron Quillen, He was able to very deep into the ball game and that saved our bullpen for the most part for the remainder of the series. I can't say enough about Aaron and his mentality and performance on these Friday nights," said Head Coach Dave Jarvis after the win. "It is huge for us to be able to count on Quillen like that."
Washington, who leads in several categories including hits and runs scored, produced in key spots for Belmont in the win.
"Well I had been telling the guys about my hamstrings being a little bit tight. I was sort of feeling like a merman out there because I felt like I was running around with no legs under me. But It was just one of those nights for me where I was able to see some good pitches and make the most out of it."
Walsh leads the team with nine hits over Belmont's last five games and produced from the nine hole for the Bruins Friday night.
"Walsh is an extremely gifted player and his best days are in front of him for this team. It was great to see him have a three-hit night and get things moving," added Jarvis.
Quillen's line at the end of the game was a tad misleading, as the Skyhawks got to Quillen for six hits and five runs in the top of the ninth. The senior Quillen may have ran out of gas but another senior in Josh Tubbs (Camden, Tenn.) came on in relief to end things in the ninth.
UT Martin opened the scoring as it manufactured a run in its opening at bat.
After the Bruins were held scoreless through their first two turns at the dish, Walsh recorded Belmont's first hit of the game when he bunted down the third base line in the third inning. The fleet of foot Walsh stole second on the first pitch to Rafael Bournigal (Mulberry, Fla.). Bournigal then reached first on a walk after battling to a 3-2 count. In stepped Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.), who reached on fielder's choice to the shortstop as Bournigal was forced out at second. Washington, with two outs in the inning, smashed the first offering he saw into left center which scored Walsh and Hadden all the way home first base. Alex Ward (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) got in on the act with a basehit up the middle which scored Washington and made it 3-1 BU after three complete innings.
"Their pitcher was in a grove after the first two innings. He was a pretty big body on the mound so I figured I'd get him off the mound and test him. I just wanted to get us a rally going and get some runs for Quillen," said Walsh.
Just as he did in the third, Walsh ignited another Belmont rally as he led off the fifth slapping a basehit to right field. The Bruins played a little small ball as Bournigal dropped down a beautiful bunt to advance Walsh into scoring position at second. The Evansville, Ind. native proceeded to take third on the wild pitch. Hadden then walked, and himself and Walsh came around to score on another RBI basehit by Washington. Washington came through yet again in an RBI opportunity for Belmont. Ward reached again on a walk before Tyler Fullerton (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) socked a basehit up the middle to plate two more Bruins and extend the score to 7-2.
Fullerton, starting his seventh game of 2016, had a nice game for the Bruins recording two hits and three RBIs.
"It was nice to have Fullerton back tonight, going forward he will become more and more of a factor for us," said Jarvis.
Quillen has taken the ball and given Belmont a chance to win in every outing he's started this season.
"My mentality is always just about giving my team the best opportunity to win. I want to pitch as long as I can and pound the zone when I'm out there. We know we're going to face adversity out there, and just like a merman we choose to swim instead of sink," said Quillen after his team's series-opening win.
The Bruins added two insurance runs in the seventh and one in the eighth which certainly loomed large in the end result.
"It is a big win for us for sure. These OVC wins are precious and tonight helped us get back on track," said Walsh.
Belmont snapped a three-game losing skid and looks to win its fifth series tomorrow afternoon.
"It's important to bounce back and refocus after Tuesday. It is nice to get back on the right foot and start a series with a victory like this," added Washington.
The Bruins and Skyhawks resume series action tomorrow afternoon as the squads meet up at Rose Park for a 2 p.m. tilt.
