Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont baseball dropped a 4-3 decision to the Jacksonville State Gamecocks on Friday evening.
The Gamecocks made their presence known early in the game, jumping out to an early 2-0 lead after a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. Belmont was unable to answer in the bottom of the inning despite a hit and a walk put a runner in scoring position.
Jacksonville scored again in the very next inning after stringing together three-consecutive base hits to leadoff the top of the second to score run three and taking advantage of a Belmont error to score the fourth run to take a 4-0 lead.
After struggling with command early on, starting pitcher Tyler Vaughn (Jonesboro, Ill.) and the Bruins seemed to settle in. JSU was not able to notch another run for the remaining seven innings.
Belmont cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the third after leadoff man freshman Jordan Henshaw (New Market, Ala.) laid a base hit into right field. Senior Kyle Conger (Brentwood, Tenn.) delivered a nearly perfect sacrifice bunt that pushed Henshaw to scoring position. The next at-bat, sophomore Matt Cogen (Franklin, Tenn.) came up big and plated Henshaw with a RBI single to left field. Cogen was picked off the next play to end the inning, but not before the Bruins cut the lead 4-1.
Belmont continued to chip away at the lead, scoring again in the bottom of the fifth. Junior Hunter Holland (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) took advantage of a double error, making his way all the way to second base. Henshaw then stepped to the plate and came in clutch once again and grounded out to the first baseman, but it was good enough for a RBI and cut the lead 4-2.
After two scoreless innings, the Bruins continued to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the eighth. After leadoff man Conger advanced to first on a dropped third strike, the next two bruins flew out. What could have been a quick inning was extended as Conger stole second base and junior Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.) send a line drive through the left side that scored conger, narrowing the lead 4-3.
Belmont entered the top of the fifth trying to preserve a one-run deficit. Sophomore Justin Fowlkes (Collierville, Tenn.) was called upon to pitch the final inning, and he did his job forcing a three up, three down inning in which he forced a strikeout and two groundouts.
The Bruins headed to the bottom of the final frame looking to rally. After the first two batters were retired, senior Cully Day (Mahomet, Ill.) delivered a base hit up the middle to give Belmont new life. He would then advance on a wild pitch to put himself in scoring position, but the rally fell short as the next batter struck out.
Vaughn had another nice outing once he settled in, throwing eight complete innings, striking out four, and walking none.
Henshaw had a successful night as he played a role in two of the Bruins three runs scoring one and batting one in.
UP NEXT
Belmont and JSU will finish their series Saturday, April 21st when they play a double header. First pitch of game one is slated for 1:00 p.m. CT will game 2 to follow.
