Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont Baseball dropped a 10-6 decision Friday afternoon to conference foe Austin Peay.
The Bruins jumped out to an early lead after keeping Austin Peay scoreless in the top of the first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning. Leadoff man, senior Kyle Conger (Brentwood, Tenn.) worked a walk and made his way to third base after advancing on a ground out and a wild pitch. He manufactured the first Belmont run of the night, scoring on another Govs wild pitch. Junior Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn,) recorded the Bruins first hit of the night with an infield single to give the Bruins another base runner. Senior Ben Kocher (Zionsville, Ind.) would send him all the way home with a RBI double down the right field line to plate Hadden and give the Bruins a 2-0 lead.
The Governers scored a run in the top of the second and three more in the top of the fourth all on solo home runs to take a 4-2 lead.
The Bruins tied things back up in the fourth inning after giving up three home runs in the top of the inning. Hadden became the fourth-consecutive leadoff man to reach base for the Bruins after working a walk. He stole second to put himself in scoring position and junior Hunter Holland (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) took advantage sending a RBI double down the left line scoring Hadden to cut the lead 4-3. Freshman Jordan Henshaw (New Market, Ala.) stepped up and delivered a base hit to left field that scored Holland for the tying run.
After walking two and a Belmont error, senior pitcher Tyler Vaughn (Jonesboro, Ill.) found himself in a jam with one out and runners on first and third. The Goveners took advantage of a wild pitch and plated their fifth run of the night to retake the lead. Vaughn was able to keep any more runs off the board with two-straight strikeouts.
Belmont answered yet again in the bottom of the fifth. After putting himself on with a leadoff single, Conger reached third base after taking advantage of a fielder's choice and an Austin Peay error. Hadden stepped up to the plate with one out and delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Conger for the tying fifth run.
Austin Peay rocketed another long ball in the sixth and tacked on three more runs in the the next two innings to take a 10-6 lead.
Sophomore Matt Cogen (Franklin, Tenn.) recorded his first hit of the day in the bottom of the eighth, and it was a big one. With one out, he sent a ball well over the right center field wall for a solo home run to cut the APSU lead 10-6. Hadden followed that up with his second hit of the contest to put a runner on with only one out, but Kocher grounded into a double play to end the inning. That would end the scoring efforts for both squads.
Vaughn took his third loss of the season on the mound for the Bruins. Junior Kyle Klotz (Fairview, Tenn.) and freshman Logan Bowen (Bowling Green, Tenn.) and Chandley Schultz (Nashville, Tenn.) all saw time in relief for the Bruins.
UP NEXT
The two squads will meet again Saturday, April 7th for game two of the series. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m. CT.
