Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont dropped a pair of games to Jacksonville State after over seven hours of baseball was played.
Belmont struggled from the early goings in game one of the Saturday double header. Jacksonville State took a commanding lead early, scoring three in the first inning and two in the top of the second to take an early 5-0 lead.
Belmont scored their first of two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman Jackson Campbell (Russellville, Ky.) delivered a RBI single that scored both runs after a fielder's choice and a walk put two base runners on.
JSU scored 12 runs in the third and fourth innings to jump out to a 17-18 lead. Belmont scored two more in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Matt Cogen (Franklin, Tenn.) and junior Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.) delivered a couple RBI to plate the third and fourth runs.
Freshman Stone Selby (Hohenwald, Tenn.) was the bright spot in game one. He came to the mound in the top of the fourth inning to relieve for the Bruins. As the sixth pitcher utilized for the Bruins, Selby had a career outing, throwing 5 and two-thirds innings, only allowing three hits and one run. This was Selby's first conference appearance as a Bruin. He had a previous career-high one innings pitched.
Senior Connor Etheridge (Springfield, Ill.) was on the hook for the loss.
Belmont ultimately fell 18-4 and were outhit 16-9.
GAME 2
Belmont struck first in game two of the double header. With one out, junior Devon Gardner (Maryville, Tenn.) worked a walk, and sophomore Matt Cogen (Franklin, Tenn.) rocketed a double to put two Bruins in scoring position. Sophomore Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.) delivered a sacrifice fly to left field that plated Gardner and gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead after one complete inning.
Aftr three scoreless innings, JSU tied things up in the top of the fifth. A base hit from the second batter broke a string of four strikeouts by Casey Queener. The Gamecocks put together a couple base hits and work a couple walks to plate their first run of the night. After scoring, Jacksonville State loaded the bases, but Queener was able to force a flyout and get out of the inning without any further damage.
JSU extended their lead 4-1 in the next inning after scoring three runs after a sacrifice fly and three base hits.
Belmont earned one back in the bottom of the sixth after a two-out rally. Junior Hunter Holland (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) put together an impressive at bat in which he worked a walk after fouling off several pitches. Senior Cully Day (Mahomet, Ill.) followed that up with a four-pitch walk. Freshman Jordan Henshaw (New Market, Ala.) delivered the second run of the game when he smashed a single up the middle to cut the lead 4-2.
After two scoreless innings, Belmont rallied in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. With one out, senior Kyle Conger (Brentwood, Tenn.) and Gardner strung together a couple of base hits and completed a double stela to put the tying runs in scoring position. Cogen delivered a beautiful sacrifice fly to center field that scored Conger to cut the lead 4-3. Hadden stepped to the plate with two outs and the tying run 90 feet from home plate. He came up clutch and sent a RBI single to right field to tie things up.
It took three extra innings and four hours to decide game two of the double header. After scoreless 10th and 11th innings, JSU took advantage of a BU error and scored an unearned run to take a 5-4 lead in the top of the 12th.
Hadden started the bottom of the 12th inning with his 40th walk of the season. After a sac bunt from senior Ben Kocher (Zionsville, Ind.) and a single from senior Austin Reynolds (Smyrna, Tenn.), BU had runners on the corners with just one out. Belmont's night ended as the final batter grounded into a double play.
Starting pitcher Casey Queener threw five innings, allowing four hits and striking out nine.
Belmont used four pitchers in game two of the double header. Freshman Kyle Brennan (Franklin, Tenn.) threw a career-high six innings, only allowing one unearned run and striking out three.
UP NEXT
Belmont will make the short trip down the Boulevard to Lipscomb on Tuesday for a midweek tilt. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. CT.
