Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Scoring in each of its final six innings, the Belmont baseball team defeated UNC Asheville 16-4 on Friday at Rose Park.
Belmont scored in six straight innings for the first time since May 14, 2017 against SEMO, scoring at least 15 runs for the first time since March 29, 2018 at SIUE. Sophomore pitcher Joshua South earned his second win of the season, striking out at least seven batters for the sixth time in his last 10 outings.
Sophomore John Behrends, junior Jackson Campbell and freshman Drew Lowry each tied a career high of three hits, with Behrends and Lowry obtaining career highs in RBIs with three each. Belmont had at least three hitters obtain three hits for the first time since Feb. 24, 2018 against Fairleigh Dickinson.
"Our guys were able to wash off Tuesday night when we got home," head coach Dave Jarvis said. "We had a good practice yesterday. I felt like our guys were ready to play. We took advantage of some base on balls, put ourselves in good scoring position and we had some timely hitting. That's a good win."
After UNC Asheville took a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third, Campbell responded with his third home run of the season to cut the deficit down to two runs. Belmont put two runners on in the next half-inning, with Lowry hitting an RBI single to make it a one-run game.
Campbell followed Lowry with a double that drove in two more runs, allowing Belmont to regain the lead 4-3. Sophomore Jack Capobianco kept the rally going with an RBI single in the next at-bat to put Belmont ahead by two runs.
"(The offense) was a big morale booster," Behrends said. "We're just going to keep trying to do the same thing (on Saturday and Sunday)."
Following a bases loaded walk and an RBI single from Behrends in the next two innings, Belmont opened the gap thanks to a six-run bottom of the seventh inning. A single from Lowry and two bases loaded walks brought in three runs, with a single from Behrends driving in two more runs.
The Bruins would cap off the bottom of the seventh inning with a double stolen base, taking a 13-4 lead.
"We're not going to hit the brakes. It's college baseball," Campbell said. "We're here to win. We're going to keep hitting and keep playing until the game is over."
Belmont kept its bats hot in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring two runs off a Lowry RBI single and a grounder from Capobianco. Senior Hagan Severance came up with an RBI single to score Lowry and give Belmont a 12-run lead.
Pitchers Jack McLaughlin, Brandon Liskey and Kory Winning all made their season debuts in the top of the ninth inning, not allowing a UNC Asheville hit and collecting the three outs to clinch the win.
"A lot of the offensive success was working the count and making sure we took advantage of the opportunities that they presented," Jarvis said. "There's still room for improvement. We just need to be sure our approach continues to get better and we continue to execute in those situations to get runners home."
Belmont continues the series with UNC Asheville, facing the Bulldogs on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Rose Park.
