NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Belmont baseball is partaking in the second annual Mule Mix Classic, hosting Missouri State, Northwestern and Bowling Green over the course of three days (Feb. 24-26). Lipscomb and Middle Tennessee will also host the Bears, Wildcats and Falcons on alternating days during the weekend. The Bruins will start the event with Missouri State on Friday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m., they will then play Northwestern on Saturday, Feb. 25 at noon before taking on Bowling Green at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 25. All three of BU's contests will be held at E.S. Rose Park.
ABOUT THE BRUINS
Having struggled to get its offense going during opening weekend, Belmont baseball got back on track with an 11-run performance over Western Kentucky in the team's first midweek contest. The Bruins beat the Hilltoppers, 11-3, for the first time in its last four meetings behind a 14-hit outing. The team now holds a 1-3 overall record heading into the Mule Mix Classic.
Leading the Bruins hitting efforts is redshirt-freshman outfielder Matt Cogen (Franklin, Tenn.) who has posted three consecutive multi-hit games. Cogen currently sits third in the OVC standings batting a team-best .545 while going 6-for-11 at the plate. The rookie collected his first RBI against WKU on a solo shot over the right field barrier. Behind Cogen is senior infielder Drake Byrd (Pigeon Forge, Tenn.) who rocketed to a .500 batting average after a 4-for-5 performance at the plate on Wednesday evening. Byrd connected on three singles and a double to earn 5 RBIs, the sole Bruins to boast more than two this season. Junior infielder Rafael Bournigal (Mulberry, Fla.) is also batting .500 with a pair of runs and RBIs. Collectively, the team has earned a BA of .206 with six doubles and two home runs.
The pitching staff has opened the season with 12 different Bruins seeing time on the mound, but just four have logged 5.0 or more innings of work. Junior pitcher Tyler Vaughn (Jonesboro, Ill.) earned the starting nod on opening day, retiring a team-high nine batters. Sophomore righties Dylan King (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Casey Queener (Brentwood, Tenn.) have each tossed 6.0 stanzas in respective games, combining for 12 strikeouts and just two runs. While seasoned hurlers took the mound in the opening series, freshman left-hander Justin Fowlkes (Collierville, Tenn.) earned the start against the Hilltoppers, throwing two flawless innings in his debut as a Bruin.
ZERO-TO-SIXTY
It takes little time for senior infielder Tyler Walsh (Evansville, Ind.) to turn on the speed as he displayed against the Hilltoppers, stealing second base twice - both would go on to result in a run. Walsh currently sits third in Belmont's NCAA era records with 48 stolen bases, seven behind Drew Ferguson (55).
FLYING HIGH
After going 0-for-2 at the plate on opening day, Byrd couldn't be stopped in his second start of the year. The Pigeon Forge, Tennessee native boasted a career day connecting on four of his five at-bats against WKU, collecting a lifetime-best five RBIs on three base knocks and a double. In his first three seasons, Byrd had only mustered two hits and three RBIs in a game - both on separate occasions.
SEEING DOUBLE
After sitting out his first season with Belmont, Cogen has posted three consecutive two-hit games. He's the only Bruin to record multiple hits in multiple contests. Four games into the season, Cogen is hitting .545, slugging .909 and registering a .615 on-base percentage. The Franklin, Tenn. product is 6-for-11 at the plate, including his first collegiate dinger against WKU (2.22).
HOT HITTING
Belmont bounced back against Western Kentucky after combining for just 12 hits in its first three outings. The squad's bats exploded in their first midweek challenge of the year, tallying 14 hits and collecting at least one in every inning against the Hilltoppers.
FOLLOW ALONG
This weekend's games will not be streamed on the OVC Digital Network, but will have a radio broadcast on Bruins Sport Network for Friday and Sunday's contests. Fans are also welcome to follow along with live stats and @belmontbaseball for in-game updates on twitter for all three games.
