Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Belmont baseball team got back in the win column on Tuesday, defeating Southern Illinois 4-3 at Rose Park.
Freshman Andy Bean earned the win in his first collegiate start, coming up with six strikeouts in five innings pitched. Junior Kyle Brennan earned his first save of the season, holding the 10th most career saves in program history by himself. He needs just one more save to move into a tie for eighth with Blake Owen (2005) and Josh Davis (2010-13).
"I was really thrilled with the way Andy Bean came out tonight and pitched in some difficult weather conditions," head coach Dave Jarvis said. "I thought his start was paramount to what we got accomplished tonight because he went out there and really gave us some solid, consistent innings."
After two scoreless innings, Belmont loaded the bases with two outs following a walk, single and a dropped third strike. The Bruins struck first off two wild pitches that put them in front 2-0 after three innings of play.
Southern Illinois responded with its own two-out rally in the next half-inning, scoring off a double steal and getting the tying run home following two Belmont errors. The Salukis looked to take the lead in the top of the fifth off a double that put runners at second and third base, but Bean forced a two-out fly out to centerfield that allowed the game to stay tied 2-2.
"There was definitely nerves. I think getting bullpen action on Saturday against Kansas helped," Bean said. "I've been working with these guys since August and I trust every single one of them. They did their jobs behind me. I trust (Pitching) Coach (Caleb) Longshore. They were all behind me and we were all just working together."
Belmont responded in the bottom of the fifth inning, drawing a walk and getting a single from freshman Brodey Heaton, who came up with a game high of three hits in a 3-for-4 outing at the plate. Sophomore Tommy Crider came up with his seventh RBI of the season to give Belmont a 3-2 lead.
With Heaton's career high performance, he became the second freshman this season to obtain three hits in a game (Drew Lowry on Feb. 14 against Kansas).
"(Having game experience) makes it a lot easier (to hit) going forward," Heaton said. "I don't have to press at the plate. I can do my thing, see the ball and react to it."
Senior Chandler Adkins came up with a centerfield double in the bottom of the sixth and advanced to third base off a sacrifice bunt, with Lowry bringing him home with a sacrifice fly to give Belmont a two-run lead. Southern Illinois responded with two consecutive singles in the top of the eighth inning, scoring off a Belmont error to cut the lead 4-3.
With freshman Jalen Borders retiring the side with two outs in the top of the eighth, Brennan closed out the game by forcing two groundouts and collecting his sixth strikeout of the season.
"I was really pleased with a lot of performances tonight," Jarvis said. "Brodey Heaton, Chandler Adkins and what they did for us. I felt like our bullpen came in and performed reasonably well. Of course, Kyle Brennan coming in and getting the save and Jalen Borders coming up big in the back end. They did an excellent job for us."
Belmont looks to keep the momentum in the Turface Classic, facing Samford on Thursday at 4 p.m. at Rose Park.
