Box Score CARBONDALE, Ill.- The Belmont University baseball team (16-12) saw its three-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Southern Illinois Salukis, as it fell 11-1 Tuesday evening in Carbondale, Ill.
After a weekend of firing off the bats, recording 40 runs and 41 hits in three games, the Bruins were calmed down only recording four hits and one run on the evening.
Rafael Bournigal (Mulberry, Fla.) paced the Bruins with two hits.
The Bruins struck first and led 1-0 after one inning was in the books, only to see the Salukis explode for a critical seven run bottom of the second.
Sophomore Alex Ward (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Hadden opened up play with back-to-back walks. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, and the bases were loaded after senior Tyler Fullerton (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) was issued another walk in the inning. Payne recorded an RBI with a fielder's choice up the middle, which put the Bruins on top 1-0 in the first inning.
Six BU pitchers saw action, including freshman Casey Queener (Brentwood, Tenn.) who was saddled with his second loss of the season.
Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.) reached three times with a hit and two walks while Clay Payne (Powell, Tenn.) picked up the Bruins' lone RBI.
Four errors plagued the Bruins while SIUC held a 15-4 advantage in hits.
The Bruins saw their lead-off hitter get on base in both the seventh and eighth inning but were unable to convert for any addiional runs. Bournigal notched a double off a line drive in the seventh and freshman Hunter Holland (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) begun the eighth with a walk.
McPherson of Carbonale notched his first win of the season for the Salukis, giving up only two hits in 4.2 innings.
The Bruins resume action this weekend when they travel to SIUE for a three-game slate of OVC games.
