Box Score EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.- Despite battling back to carry an 8-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth, the Belmont University baseball team (16-13, 6-4) fell 9-8 to the host SIUE Cougars in what was a crazy game Friday night in Edwardsville, Ill.
After Alex Ward (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) launched a clutch three-run homerun in the top of the ninth to put the Bruins ahead 8-6, Belmont needed just three outs to secure the road victory. SIUE stormed back with three runs on three hits and a walk-off walk in the last of the ninth to stun the Bruins.
The Bruins left 13 runners on and were just 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position. Belmont registered 12 hits compared to the Cougars' nine, but couldn't quite come through with the big hit.
The gusting winds usually present at E.S. Rose Park followed the Bruins north to Edwardsville as there was a stiff gale blowing towards right for most of the game.
Brennan Washington (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), who went for 1-for-2 and reached base three times in the batter's box, came on in relief in the ninth. Washington, already in the game in right field, relieved Connor Etheridge (Springfield, Ill.) who began on the mound in the ninth but was lifted after SIUE recorded a lead off single. After SIUE produced two hits off of Washington, Dom Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) BU's centerfielder at time, moved to the mound with the game-winning run on second. SIUE then moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt and after Veltri opted for the intentional walk, the bases were loaded with just one out. With the bases full SIUE's Alex Jackson, an Edwardsville native, walked to push across the SIUE's ninth run and earn the walk off win. Washington was saddled with his first loss of the season.
Ben Kocher (Zionsville, Ind.) paced the Bruins with a perfect 4-for-4 performance and he drove in two runs. Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.), Rafael Bournigal (Mulberry, Fla.) and Ward all collected two hits apiece. Ward, hitting his third homer of the season, finished 2-for-5.
Bruin starter Aaron Quillen (Kingsport, Tenn.) finished with six innings pitched and allowed four earned runs. The senior kept the Bruins in and battled, receiving the no decision.
The Bruins loaded the bases in both of their first two turns at bat but came away with just two runs. The Bruins opened the scoring when Tyler Fullerton (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) socked an RBI double into the left center gap driving in Ward who reached on a base on balls to lead off the game. Clay Payne (Powell, Tenn.) walked with the bases juiced to plate Hadden who reached on a single. In the second the Bruins put the first three runners aboard but could not come through with a timely hit.
SIUE loaded the bases itself in the third, but it was a little bit more successful as it cashed in for three scores. After the lead off batter walked for SIUE, the next batter reached on an error by Hadden when it looked like BU may have a shot at a 3-6-3 double play. The Cougars registered two hits and a sacrifice fly to drive in three in third. Two of Belmont's outs in the inning came by way of excellent defensive plays. Kyle Conger (Brentwood, Tenn.) made a great play to a range up the middle and rob an SIUE batter of a basehit while Washington came up with an impressive play of his own in right field.
In the fifth, BU loaded the bases again but could not make the Cougars pay as it came across with just one run scored. Washington scored on the Kocher walk, but after SIUE went to the bullpen, Ward grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat.
The Bruins loaded the bases in three of the first five innings but came away with just three runs during that time. BU was 0-6 with the bases full and left 10 batters on through five complete.
In the sixth, the Bruins again put the pressure on as they loaded the bases for the fourth time. BU would regain the lead as Payne grounded into a 643 twin killing with the bases loaded to push across BU's fourth run. In the bottom of the frame, Quillen allowed a walk and hit two Cougars in a row to load the bases. After walking his second of the inning and allowing SIUE to equalize with its fourth run, Quillen really focused in to record two-straight outs to limit the damage to just one run. After six complete innings the game was knotted at four all.
Bournigal led off the seventh with a base hit through the right side. Bournigal was sacrificed to second as Conger and the Bruins played small ball. Bournigal picked a good time to swipe his sixth stolen base of the year as he took third to put the go ahead run just 90 feet away. With the Cougar infield playing in, Kocher drove one up the middle to pick up his third hit of the game and more importantly BU's fifth run.
Etheridge entered in relief and ran into some trouble right away in the seventh. The Cougars regained the lead during the home half of the seventh, scoring two runs. After loading the bases without recording an out, Etheridge did well to work out of the jam only allowing two runs.
BU trailed 6-5 after seven.
Belmont falls to 6-4 in the OVC and 2-4 on the road.
The Bruins and Cougars resume action tomorrow when the squads meet for a 1 p.m. tilt.
