Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In its final home game of the season, Belmont University Baseball defeated University of Evansville 6-4 after a quick start to the game.
BU got going quickly with a leadoff double from senior Zach Ehrhart (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) to start the bottom of the first inning. Ehrhart made his way just 90 feet from home plate but was stranded at third.
After being held scoreless in the first, the Bruins opened up the game's scoring in the bottom of the second. Like the first inning, BU's leadoff man notched a hit. This time, senior Devon Gardner (Maryville, Tenn.) was on first base after an infield single. The next two batters reached on errors to load the bases with no outs. Freshman John Behrends (Chattanooga, Tenn.) took advantage of the errors and delivered an RBI single to center field to put BU on top 1-0. A bases loaded walk and sacrifice fly from Ehrhart put BU on top 3-0 after two complete innings.
The Bruins continued to add to its lead in the bottom of the third inning. Gardner reached first after being hit by a pitch, and junior Hagan Severance (Brentwood, Tenn.) took advantage. Severance delivered a double to left field that scored Gardner from first base for a 4-0 lead.
The Purple Aces finally got on the board in the top of the fifth, scoring a run on two hits to cut the lead 4-1.
Belmont didn't let the momentum swing, answering with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Junior Chandler Adkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) gave BU a base runner, working a one-out walk. A single from junior Hunter Holland (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) pushed Adkins to third. Freshman Grayson Taylor (Cullman, Ala.) then delivered Belmont's second sacrifice fly of the night to score the fifth BU run.
With a 5-1 deficit, Evansville answered with one run in the sixth and two in the seventh to cut the lead 5-4.
Adkins scored a much-needed insurance run in the bottom of the seventh to swing momentum back in BU's favor. With one out, Adkins drilled a home run well past the right field fence. His solo shot gave BU a 6-4 lead.
Sophomore Kyle Brennan (Franklin, Tenn.) took over the mound after a scoreless eighth to try and notch his eighth save of the season. Brennan struck one out and forced a double play to secure the 6-4 victory.
BU will be back in action for its final OVC series of the season this weekend at Eastern Kentucky University.
