NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont baseball heads to Western Kentucky for a midweek contest on Tuesday, March 7. The game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. CT at Nick Denes Field. This will be the second meeting between the Bruins and Hilltoppers, BU claimed the first meeting, 11-3.
ABOUT THE BRUINS
Belmont faced its first nationally ranked opponent of the year last weekend, taking on then-No.17 Georgia Tech. BU stole one game from the Yellow Jackets, beating them 11-5 in Sunday's contest and handing them only their second loss of the season. The squad is now 5-6 on the year after going 2-2 in the third week of competition.
The Bruins offensive production has been led by junior Rafael Bournigal (Mulberry, Fla.) and redshirt-freshman Matt Cogen (Franklin, Tenn.). Bournigal is currently registering a team-best .429 batting average, going 9-for-21 at the plate with a pair of doubles and six RBIs. Cogen has collected a .425 BA and is the only Bruin to tally double digit hits with 17. The leads the squad with a pair of triples and a on-base percentage of .650. Belmont has enjoyed the consistency from sophomore Chase Hadden (Morris Town, Tenn.) who's collected at least one hit in each of the team's last six games, including three multi-RBI games. Senior outfielder Brennan Washington (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) has launched three long balls this season, contributing to his team high 11 runs batted in this season.
The pitching staff has been headed by sophomore Dylan King (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and junior Tyler Vaughn (Jonesboro, Ill.) who have hurled a combined 45 strikeouts. Right-handed sophomore, Connor Etheridge (Springfield, Ill.), earned his first start of the year against Georgia Tech tossing 4.0 complete innings and striking out four batters. Redshirt-junior Ben Lovell (St. Louis, Mo.) will get the starting nod for Tuesday's match up against the Hilltoppers. He's logged 6.2 innings of work in 2017, relinquishing three runs and triggering a ERA of 1.35. The Bruins have also seen extensive production from their bullpen with 10 different pitchers taking the hill for Belmont. Senior righty Dom Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) earned his first save of the year against Bowling Green, sitting down the Falcons final three batters.
LAST TIME AGAINST WKU
The Bruins claimed their first win of the 2017 season against the Hilltoppers in their initial meeting on Feb. 22. Belmont topped Western Kentucky, 11-3, in a career-best performance by Drake Byrd (Pigeon Forge, Tenn.) who was one of four Bruins to collect multiple hits in the outing. Bryd went 4-for-5 at the plate, raking in five RBIs to help propel BU past WKU.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
The Bruins have registered a double in nine of its first 11 contests, including connecting on at least two in eight games. They hold a 5-3 mark when recording multiple two-base shots.
10 AND 2
Sporting No. 10 for the Bruins, senior Clay Payne (Powell, Tenn.), is the driving force of Belmont's defense playing position 2 (catcher). Payne has started behind the plate in all but one game this season, tallying 93 putouts - ranking third in the conference. He has also caught a pair of runners attempting to steal.
IN THE NICK OF TIME
Senior utility Nick Egli (Brentwood, Tenn.) has played a crucial role in sparking the Bruins offense as the designated hitter. He was the one who provoked a five-run two-out rally against Bowling Green with a two bagger that would go on to help Belmont post its first come-from-behind victory. He then ignited Belmont's offense in the first two innings against then-No. 17 Georgia Tech in the third game, posting 4 RBIs and helping BU get out to an early lead that they'd never relinquish.
IT'S IN THE BLOOD
Rafael Bournigal is a vital member of both Belmont's offense and defense, producing plays both at the plate and at second base. He's also the son of former major leaguer, Rafael Bournigal, who played from 1992-99 with the likes of the Seattle Mariners, Oakland A's and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was drafted by the Dodgers in the 19th round of the 1987 MLB Draft.
FOLLOW ALONG
Tuesday's game will be broadcasted on WKU Sports TV. You can also follow our twitter page, @belmontbaseball and with live stats at wkusports.com for in-game updates.
