Box Score Charleston, Ill.- Behind a strong outing from sophomore pitcher Tyler Vaughn (Jonesboro, Ill.), the Belmont University baseball (22-17, 11-7) knocked off Eastern Illinois 6-1, at Coaches Stadium to earn the series victory, Sunday afternoon.
Vaughn twirled eight innings, scattering six hits and allowing just one earned run. The Illinois native was terrific in this series clinching victory as he came through with some crucial innings in Belmont's third game of a stretch of five straight contests. EIU got on the board first as it picked up a run in the second, but from that point forward Vaughn stymied the EIU batters and kept the Panthers at bay.
Vaughn set the tone with his effort on the mound, and the Bruin offense came through with 11 hits. The Bruins, outhitting EIU 11-7, took control of the game in the mid-to-late innings scoring all six runs after the fourth inning. Tyler Fullerton (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) paced the Bruin attack with a three hit effort. One of Fullerton's trio of hits flew over the left center fence for his second homerun of the weekend. Kyle Conger capped off an excellent weekend with a two hit, two RBI effort. Conger also touched em all twice in the three game set, and added two RBIs in Sunday's game to run his weekend total to nine.
Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.) reached base four times as he singled to drive in a pair of runs and walked three times. Hadden continues to get on base and walk at an incredible rate as he is ranked top 10 nationally in each category.
A three run fifth inning by the Bruins proved to be a difference maker in the victory. It faced a 1-0 deficit at this time but after a single by Hadden opened the scoring, Belmont jumped ahead 3-1 when Fullerton smacked his fifth homerun of the season. Fullerton, hitting .370 overall has been especially effective in conference, batting .435.
The Bruins continued to chip away with a score in the sixth. After Desi Ammons (Hohenwald, Tenn.) singled through the left side, the Bruins elected to sacrifice him over with a bunt from Tyler Walsh (Evansville, Ind.). Ammons then moved up to third as he tagged up on a flyball to center and would come home to score on a basehit up the middle off the bat of Conger.
Conger drove in another run in the seventh when he doubled to push across Walsh who led off the frame with a double of his own. Conger hit .500 for the weekend with seven hits and nine RBIs, including a two-homer performance Friday in which he picked up a grandslam.
Fullerton and Brennan Washington (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) also both batted an even .500 for the weekend with a pair of homeruns to each of their names.
For EIU, senior Matt Wivinis provided some stability with a seven inning effort, but after he left the game four Panthers appeared on the mound to finish out the final two frames.
Josh Tubbs (Camden, Tenn.) logged a scoreless ninth inning throwing just 13 pitches.
After a tough 9-8 setback in extras a day before, the Bruins showed strong resolve picking up the 6-1 win in the series rubber match with the Panthers.
Belmont resumes action tomorrow, Monday April, 25 with a non-conference clash with Memphis at E.S. Rose Park. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
