Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont baseball compiled a solid effort to defeat Youngstown State 5-1 Saturday night at E.S. Rose Park. Despite being delayed for more than three hours because of rain, BU came to play.
Starting Pitcher senior Connor Etheridge (Springfield, Ill.) came out hot throwing two quick strikes on his first two pitches of the contest. The Bruins defense showed up early getting their first three outs after just four batters. Senior Kyle Conger (Brentwood, Tenn.) was the first at-bat for the bruins blasting a double. Conger later advanced to scoring position, but was unable to make it across home plate.
The Penguins made their first real offensive threat in the top of the third. After their second batter smacked a double, Etheridge threw two consecutive strikeout's to end the inning and keep Youngstown scoreless.
The Bottom of the third was a big inning for the Bruins. Conger once again got things going with a single. He then stole second and third bases on consecutive plays to put himself in scoring position. Conger made his way across the plate after Chas Hadden got a clean hit for a single. Sophomore Matt Cogen (Franklin, Tenn.) had a good at-bat to advance on a base on balls and advanced to third. He got Belmont's second run of the inning with the help of an RBI from junior Devon Gardner (Maryville, Tenn.)
Belmont kept up the pace defensively putting together two consecutive three up, three down innings to keep the Penguins scoreless.
Youngstown would make their presence known in the top of the sixth. After two hits and a stolen base, Blaze Glenn laid down another hit to send Cameron Murray across the plate to put the heat on the bruins. Belmont was able to catch a man stealing on the next play to end the inning and keep the Penguins from closing the gap.
After an unproductive bottom of the sixth for the Bruins, Youngstown tried to take advantage. With YSU runners on first and third with one out remaining, BU's defense stepped up once again to keep the Penguins from tying the game.
Things heated up once again for the Bruins in the bottom of the seventh. Freshman Jordan Henshaw (New Market, Ala.) sent a bomb over the right field fence for his first home run of his collegiate career to increase the Belmont lead to 3-1. Two batters later, Cogen hit a double and later advanced to third. He took advantage of a wild pitch with the bases loaded to make his way across home plate for the second run of the inning.
Right handed hurler, freshman Logan Bowen (Bowling Green, Ky.) was called upon at the top of the eighth inning. In his first inning of action he faced just three batters, throwing his first strikeout to end the inning.
Belmont never let up on the gas with Austin Reynolds up to bat at the bottom of the eighth. He hit a single and steals second base on consecutive plays. Reynolds then took advantage of a Penguin error and made his way from second to home to round out Belmont's scoring on the night (5-1).
YSU made a last-ditch effort in the top of the ninth, but Belmont never let another run score to secure the 5-1 victory.
Belmont will wrap up their three-game series against Youngstown State Sunday at E.S. Rose Park. First pitch is slated for 1:00 pm.
